Federal study on online bets coming in December
The government of New South Wales in Australia has announced it will ban ads for live-odds sports betting during broadcast sports events starting next March.
NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant, who is also minister for gaming and racing in the state, told the Guardian newspaper that live-odds betting advertisements lead to impulsive betting and could cause unfortunate consequences for viewers. Under the regulation, ads about gambling services will no longer be shown during sporting matches or breaks that are broadcast within the state.
Samantha Thomas, associate professor of public health at Deakin University in Victoria, said the ban doesn’t go far enough, as viewers including children are still exposed to massive multimedia advertising campaigns, including logos of gaming operators on stadiums, sports jerseys and the like.
The government will introduce new advertising regulations next month, when a federal report on online betting from former New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell is released, the Guardian reported. According to the newspaper, the government may extend a current ban on easy credit, vouchers and other special offers used by gaming operators to entice customers.
As a preemptive measure, the Australian Association of National Advertisers, Australia’s national advertising trade association, has released a public discussion paper to address concerns about advertising gambling.
The AANA is proposing a “self-regulatory framework” for betting companies, which the organization is suggesting develop a code of conduct for responsible advertising of gambling offerings.
Sunita Gloster, CEO of the AANA, told reporters the discussion paper will cover concerns covering all forms of gambling, from racing and sports betting to casino games, lotteries and scratch cards. She said the organization will consult with operators for several weeks to develop a code based on existing regulatory and industry self-regulatory frameworks—including the AANA’s own code of ethics.
Most importantly, it would protect the interests and rights of consumers by helping to ensure advertising and marketing communication is conducted responsibly,” said Gloster.
According to the AANA website, the code will include a “transparent and easily accessible” complaint procedure through the Advertising Standards Board.
The discussion paper can be accessed at aana.com.au.
