Free TV opens discussions on gambling ad restrictions during live sport
Free TV Australia has opened consultations on draft provisions which could prevent gambling advertising from appearing during live sporting events.
The new provisions to the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice include a ban on the broadcasting of ads related to betting and gambling during live sports matches – during both scheduled and unscheduled breaks – from 5:00am to 8:30pm.
It also suggests a ban on gambling related ads from five minutes prior to, until five minutes after the conclusion of a match.
Separate rules will apply for extended sports events.
The provisions are part of the Turnbull Government’s media reforms package, which was passed last month.
Free TV Acting CEO Pamela Longstaff said the industry body was committed to meeting community expectations around gambling advertising.
“These significant restrictions will prevent gambling advertising being broadcast during live sports at times that children are likely to be watching,” Longstaff said.
“Of course, to be effective, these safeguards must apply consistently across all platforms including online.”
The draft gambling provisions are open for comment until December 15.
Comments submitted must be approved before the Australian Communications and Media Authority before the provisions comes into effect in March 2018.
Earlier this year, a study by Clarity Strategic Research suggested gambling advertising had “crossed a line”, with betting firm representatives being positioned as equal to sports experts.
this sounds to me like they know that the public are getting sick of these advertisments and want to self regulate in case the government steps in and bans them full stop
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I am heartily sick of gambling ads. They are all aimed at men and sucking their money away from their pockets. Betting companies even sponsor some TV segments so sneak in their brand mention that way – “This is brought to by Crown Bet”. Two days before the Melbourne Cup during the 6.00pm news on 9, there were 3 NEDs ads in one single ad break – the same ad repeated over. Then the next ad break there were two Crown Bet ads and the next ad break there were 3 Lad Brokes ads. Unbelievable. I changed channels. It is not just children we need to protect from this conditioning – it is young men with increasing levels of addiction being lured into online gambling. “all day every day” words form the Crown Bet ad. Listen to the words of the ads and what they say to men. I would like to see a total ban on all gambling ads on TV and online. Just like cigarettes.
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