Belarus improves sports betting ads scheme

The Parliament of Belarus has approved an amendment to the Law on Advertising, which will remove a restriction for sports betting ads.

Belarus.- As part of an attempt to improve its current regulatory scheme, the Parliament of Belarus has adopted amendments to the Law on Advertising. The authority approved the rules in its first reading and will pave the way for the approval of sports betting ads in Belarus.

The amendment, which was an initiative of the Belarusian Hockey Federation, allows sports betting ads on television and radio. The Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Advertising” established a prohibition of advertising of gambling establishments and gambling on TV and radio from 7 am to 10 pm in buildings of sports education.

With this new amendment, the phrase “with the exception of advertising for bookmakers and totes” was added to the law.

The approval also allows bookmakers to advertise during contests, lotteries, games, promotional and gaming events.

The Belarusian Hockey Association said that sports betting allows both the professional and amateur sports industry to find a new source of financing. It argues that the change will eliminate the idea that the betting industry profits from sports without giving money in return.