BGC welcomes Facebook opt-out for betting ads

Facebook is to introduce an opt-out option for the vast majority of betting adverts on the social media platform.

UK.- The British gambling trade body the Betting and Gaming Council has welcomed Facebook’s decision to introduce an opt-out for the majority of betting adverts on the platform. Facebook users who no longer want to see gaming advertisements will be able to stop doing so.

The social media platform Snapchat introduced a similar opt-out option earlier in the year.

The BGC said it had been working closely with Facebook over the past year and that it hopes to devise more tools to allow users to see fewer betting ads. The move follows the publication of the BGC’s updated Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising last year.

Under the code, BGC members must ensure that all social media ads must be targeted at consumers aged 25 and over unless the website proves they can be precisely targeted at over-18s.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “This is yet more evidence of our commitment to raising standards in the regulated industry. I welcome this move by Facebook and I would urge all social media and search platforms to provide the ability for users to opt out of viewing betting adverts.

“The regulated betting and gaming industry is determined to promote safer gambling, unlike the unsafe and growing online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are commonplace among BGC members.”

See also: BGC members to create apprenticeships for young people