The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued a warning to Network Ten for breaching gambling ad regulations. Despite this warning, the network will not face penalties for its first offense of airing gambling advertisements during live sports on its streaming service, 10 Play. However, if Network Ten continues to violate the ban on gambling ads during sporting events, penalties may be imposed by ACMA in the future. The breach occurred during a Socceroos friendly and an A-League women’s match in September 2023.
Network Ten is not the only network facing potential penalties for airing gambling ads during live sports. A bipartisan committee, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, recommended a total ban on wagering commercials during live sports. However, the government decided to implement a partial ban instead, disappointing viewers who had complained about the prevalence of gambling ads on television.
ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood emphasized the importance of having rules in place to minimize harm caused by gambling advertisements. The authority has raised concerns about the potential harm caused by these ads, especially during live sporting events. In a report, it was revealed that over 1 million gambling ads were aired on free-to-air television and radio in just 12 months, with millions of dollars being spent on advertising campaigns to attract bettors.
Network Ten attributed the airing of gambling ads to a coding error and rescinded responsibility for the breach. The network Seven also faced fines for repeated breaches of the ban on gambling ads during off-limits hours, including during an NFL football game in December 2022. Off-limits hours prohibit wagering commercials during certain times of the day to protect viewers, with exceptions for specific programming that is not targeted at children.
The proposed partial ban on gambling ads aims to phase out these advertisements over a three-year period, with restrictions on online gambling advertising and sponsorships by the end of the third year. However, Free TV Australia, the peak body for free-to-air commercial broadcasters, opposes further restrictions on gambling advertisements, citing potential cuts to free sports coverage and significant financial losses for commercial networks.
Overall, the issue of gambling advertising during live sports remains a contentious topic in Australia, with regulatory authorities and broadcasters grappling with the balance between revenue generation and the protection of viewers from harmful ads. The debate over the implementation of stricter regulations on gambling advertisements is ongoing, with stakeholders weighing the potential financial implications against the need to safeguard the public from the negative impacts of excessive gambling promotions.