The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA) has announced that domestic media platforms Seven Network and Nine Network will be reprimanded for previous breaches of national gambling advertising laws.
Per Australian law, broadcasters are barred from airing betting or sportsbook marketing content during live sporting events from the hours of 5 a.m. through 8:30 p.m.—after that time, ads can only be shown during “defined breaks” in the action.
There is a slight variation for events that are considered to be “long-form,” namely the Olympics. During those events, gambling ads cannot be aired starting from five minutes before the first event begins through 8:30 p.m., and after that only one ad per two hours of air time is permitted.
A recent ACMA investigation showed that Seven Network aired a total of 49 gambling ads throughout its broadcasts of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which took place in July and August of 2021. The ads were broadcasted to just about all of the country’s biggest markets, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Nine Network, on the other hand, aired a gambling ad during the halftime intermission of the National Rugby League championship match on October 3, 2021.
Nerida O’Loughlin, chair of the ACMA, told SBC News that advertising laws “exist to address community concerns about excessive exposure to betting promotions. Both Seven and Nine are well aware that they have to keep these ads to certain times.”
Loughlin added that “it is disappointing that both networks have failed to meet their responsibilities on such high-profile sporting events.”
According to the ACMA, both stations have begun “court-enforceable undertakings;” they will also be required to revamp training protocols and compliance systems, and to report back to the agency as to the “effectiveness” of these new efforts.
