Compliance Updates
ASA Bans BetUK’s Radio Ad Featuring Former Footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa
LeoVegas-owned sportsbook BetUK has been told by the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) not to repeat an advertisement again which featured former footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, due to its appeal to under-18s.
The radio ad for the operator in September 2023 saw Akinfenwa state he was a brand ambassador for the company. He promoted BetUK’s responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, reality checks and timeouts.
The ASA investigated the ad on the grounds of a complaint which said Akinfenwa may appeal to under-18s, and the body has subsequently ordered BetUK not to repeat the ad.
The ASA acknowledged BetUK’s argument that during his playing career, 41-year-old Akinfenwa never played in the Premier League – and so his appeal to under-18s was “low-risk.”
However, the ASA, referring to the B/CAP guidance, said that Akinfenwa was “likely” to have appeal to under-18s due to his social and media profiles.
“The B/CAP guidance classed footballers at lower league and non-league clubs as ‘low risk,’ but also stated footballers from outside the topflight could be of ‘moderate risk’ on the basis of their social and other media profiles,” the ASA said in its ruling.
Akinfenwa initially rose to fame through the FIFA series of video games, where he was highlighted by YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI for his in-game strength attribute.
“While we acknowledged BetUK’s view that Mr Akinfenwa’s clothing range, BeastModeOn, had broad appeal and was not targeted at children, we considered the manner in which he was portrayed in the media and by which he had marketed himself would have led some football fans to view him as a cult hero in the game,” the UK’s advertising watchdog said.
“We therefore considered that his media profile, alongside our view that he was unusually well known for a former lower league footballer, would have placed him in the ‘moderate risk’ category of the guidance.”
BetUK also argued that only eight percent of Akinfenwa’s followers on Instagram were under-18s and that the radio ad was played during a show which was likely to have an adult audience.
The operator added that 13% of his Snapchat followers were under 18.
The ASA, however, noted in its ruling that Akinfenwa therefore “had at least 157,000 followers who were under 18 years.”
The watchdog added that the true number was likely higher due to the unavailability of follower data for Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
“Although his career as a lower league footballer and his media profile in isolation would have placed him in the ‘moderate risk’ category, we considered that because he had such large numbers of social media followers who were under 18 years due to his career and profile, Mr Akinfenwa would be placed in the ‘high risk’ category and was likely to be of strong appeal to under-18s,” the ASA concluded.
Australia
New Harm Minimisation Measures for Pubs and Clubs with Gaming Machines Come into Effect in New South Wales
Pubs and clubs in New South Wales with gaming machines are now required to comply with important new measures intended to embed a culture of harm minimisation in venues to support people at risk of gambling harm.
Venues with more than 20 gaming machines now need to have a dedicated Responsible Gambling Officer (RGO) on duty while gaming machines are in operation.
Under the changes, licensed venues are also banned from placing any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from, an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) or EFTPOS terminal.
Any sign that advertises or gives direction to ATMs or EFTPOS terminals will also not be allowed to be visible from a gaming machine or any part of a gaming area.
Venues will be given a month’s grace period to ensure they are compliant with the new ATM signage rules before enforcement activity commences in August.
The NSW Government has consulted industry and stakeholders on the new requirements.
Venues will be responsible for identifying and training suitable staffs to fulfil the role of Responsible Gambling Officers, who will help identify and support patrons displaying concerning gambling behaviour, make referrals to gambling support services and facilitate requests for self-exclusion.
The number of officers required to be on duty will be scaled depending on the number of gaming machine entitlements a venue has.
Venues will also be required to keep a Gambling Incident Register to record details of occurrences including where a patron displays behaviour that indicates they are at risk of, or experiencing gambling harm, and any requests for self-exclusion.
Further changes will be rolled out from 1 January 2025, when all ATMs must:
- Be located at least five metres from the entry to a gaming room or area where gaming machines are located.
- Not be visible from:
- The entry to a gaming room, or area or room where gaming machines are located.
- A gaming machine.
Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors have already commenced visiting venues across the state to ensure they are aware of the new 1 July obligations, and will be providing further guidance to industry about the changes that apply from 1 January 2025.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “We know that gaming machines represent the most serious risk of gambling harm, impacting individuals and their loved ones.
“The NSW Government is committed to implementing gambling reform to reduce these harms, including this introduction of Responsible Gambling Officers in pubs and clubs, and changes to the placement and visibility of ATMs in venues.
“Responsible Gambling Officers will work to identify those patrons most at risk, or who are already experiencing gambling harm, check on their wellbeing and help refer them to support services if required.
“Having cash dispensing facilities further away from gaming machines encourages a clean break in play for patrons who may be losing track of what they are spending.
“We’ll be monitoring compliance in these areas closely to see if we need to look at strengthening harm minimisation laws even further.”
The post New Harm Minimisation Measures for Pubs and Clubs with Gaming Machines Come into Effect in New South Wales appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
Gentoo Media signs partnership agreement with SkyCity for automated brand protection tool GiG Comply
Gentoo Media has today announced a new partnership agreement with New Zealand brand, SkyCity, Australasia’s leading gaming, entertainment and hospitality businesses, for the provision of its automated compliance and brand protection tool, GiG Comply.
The agreement will reinforce SkyCity’s commitment to responsible gambling, safeguarding their brand through ensuring regulatory compliance across its various marketing efforts. GiG Comply will allow SkyCity to monitor that its affiliates are following their brand guidelines and regulatory requirements, ensuring that its marketing efforts remain compliant.
The agreement demonstrates both parties’ dedication to upholding the highest standards of compliance and brand protection through monitoring that regulatory requirements are followed and respected. SkyCity will now be able to effectively adapt to the dynamic landscape of the iGaming industry and its ever changing regulatory demands.
Rasmus Bank Nielsen, Head of GiG Comply, said: “We are thrilled to add SkyCity to our growing list of partners for GiG Comply, and we look forward to assisting them with their compliance strategy, safeguarding their brand. We hope our new partnership with SkyCity is the start of a long standing collaboration to strengthen their affiliate marketing compliance, ensuring that they will remain in control of all of their marketing, and are in line with responsible gaming.”
Mads Birch Jespersen, Director of Marketing & Media from SkyCity says: “In a rapidly evolving online casino landscape like New Zealand and given the comprehensive compliance standards that SkyCity is determined to uphold, GiG Comply offers an additional filter for us to meet these standards. The tool allows us to explore and expand our online presence, while keeping everything in line within our regulatory strategy.”
The post Gentoo Media signs partnership agreement with SkyCity for automated brand protection tool GiG Comply appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
The Danish Gambling Authority Will Have More Response Options with Amendment of the Gambling Act
On 2 May, the Danish Parliament adopted the Act on Amendment of Act on Gambling. Among other things, the amendment of the Gambling Act means that the Danish Gambling Authority from the 1st of July 2024 will have more response options i.e., options to issue orders and reprimands.
Until last month, the Danish Gambling Authority had the option to warn the licence holder or report it to the police when the Danish Gambling Authority found a breach of the gambling legislation.
However, in the future, when the Danish Gambling Authority finds a breach, the Danish Gambling Authority can issue an order and/or a reprimand. If the licence holder fails to comply with the order or does not meet the deadline, the breach may result in a report to the police or the licence may be revoked.
The amendment of the Act also means that the Danish Gambling Authority must publish court rulings where the outcome is a verdict of guilty or a partial verdict and fines issued for breaches found after 1 July 2024 on the Danish Gambling Authority’s website for five years.
On Spillemyndigheden.dk, you will find a full list of all reactions issued by the Danish Gambling Authority. You will find the list “Rulings and reactions” under “News” in the menu. The list enables you to filter by type of reaction and field of law.
The post The Danish Gambling Authority Will Have More Response Options with Amendment of the Gambling Act appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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