Australia: further regulation over gambling ads

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has been given the power to regulate gambling ads.

Gambling advertising continues to be a hot topic all around the world and Australia has taken a step towards its regulation. A bill designed to give further power to the national media watchdog has cleared the Senate and will take full effect from next Friday.

According to the new piece of legislation, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will be able to regulate gambling ads shown during online sports broadcasts. Furthermore, it will get powers to determine program standards for gambling advertisements which apply to certain broadcasters and pay-TV providers.

The bill integrates the government’s larger reform package (which has been approved as a whole) headlined by a ban on gambling ads from five minutes before the start of play until five minutes after the conclusion of play or 8.30pm.

Australia follows other countries like Spain and the United Kingdom, which have also turned their attention to gambling ads and are taking measures to regulate and prevent potential negative effects of advertisement on the most vulnerable segments of the population.