Under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice<\/strong>, gambling commercials are only permitted before play, after play and during scheduled or unscheduled breaks if shown during live sporting events between 8.30 pm and 5 am. SBS is required to comply with these advertising rules under its own Code of Practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The investigation focused on whether the advertisement qualified for the Code\u2019s \u201cdining or entertainment\u201d exemption, which allows the promotion of dining, accommodation and entertainment facilities at venues where gambling activities also take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ACMA concluded that the Crown advertisement did not meet the requirements of the exemption because it included the tagline \u201cpremier casino resort,\u201d which the regulator determined drew attention to the gambling services available at the venue in addition to its hospitality offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By contrast, ACMA found that two other Crown advertisements broadcast during the same Tour de France coverage did not breach the Code. Those commercials focused on food, dining and entertainment experiences at Crown properties without using the \u201cpremier casino resort\u201d branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carolyn Lidgerwood<\/strong>, ACMA authority member, said the advertisement under investigation went beyond promoting hospitality services. \u201cWhile the advertisement was broadly about dining, entertainment and accommodation, the use of the tagline \u2018premier casino resort\u2019 also directly promoted gambling activities available at Crown,\u201d Lidgerwood said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added that the dining and entertainment exemption does not apply when any element of an advertisement is designed to draw attention to gambling activities and directly promote them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision marks the first time ACMA has considered the scope of the dining and entertainment exemption as part of a formal investigation. The regulator said the finding serves as a reminder for broadcasters to carefully assess advertising content<\/strong> and avoid language that could be interpreted as promoting gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although SBS disagreed with the regulator\u2019s conclusion<\/strong>, the broadcaster stated that it takes compliance matters seriously and remains committed to meeting its regulatory obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/04\/5ed9ba34-da72-442a-828c-99fa903bf923-300x200.jpg\")
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