Australia bans Tabcorp ad
The gaming authorities considered Tabcorp advertisement as inappropriate.
Australia.- Whilst the Australian parliament is debating the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 to reinforce the laws against the gambling industry, the operating companies are already perceiving stricter measures. Yesterday, the leading Australian gambling provider Tabcorp noted its TV advertisement was banned for “excessive wagering.”
The national Advertising Standards Board (ASB) announced the decision of ending the transmission of Tabcorp’s publicity as it boosted the sector by considering “fun” and “sociable” to lie to the family about gambling problems. The advertising also “glamorised” the activities and presented them as a pleasure of a weekend.
According to the ASB, the Tabcorp’s promotion infringed the 2.8 of the AANA Wagering Advertising and Marketing Communications Code, which established that gaming advertisements “must not portray, condone or encourage excessive participation in wagering activities.” Tabcorp responded by saying that the advertisement was “not a depiction of a problem gambler concealing his gambling from his family.” And the company assured they did not show the characters actively engaging in gambling, and even if it did, they believe it does not in any way “glamorise gambling.”
Australia is going through several changes in its gambling industry, as authorities already banned several online activities, such as in-play betting services and introduced legislation to extend the power of ACMA, Australian Communications and Media Authority, against the companies. The new laws propose the creation of a National team which will receive complaints about the provision and advertising by gaming suppliers.
