ACMA Finds Broadcasters Violated Gambling Rules

This week the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issued a report that showed that television broadcasters Nine Network and Seven Network breached the country's gambling advertising regulations by showing gambling promotions during sporting events.

The regulator found that Seven showed 49 different gambling promotions between July and August 2021 during its Summer Olympic Games TV and internet broadcasts. The ads were shown on the feeds in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

Nine Network showed a gambling ad on October 3rd, 2021 during the National Rugby League Grand Final event. The ad was aired at 8:21pm, coming in ahead of the 8:30pm standard that was put into place in the country.

Both networks acknowledged the errors and have undertaken staff training on the scheduling of ads during sporting event broadcasts as well as change policies to help ensure the lapses don't happen again. The actions were joined by formal warnings from the regulator.

Regarding the failings, ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin said, "These rules exist to address community concerns about excessive exposure to betting promotions. Both Seven and Nine are well aware that they have to keep these ads to certain times.

"Many families enjoy watching sport as a shared activity and parents worry that children exposed to these ads may normalise betting as a part of sport.

"It is disappointing that both networks have failed to meet their responsibilities on such high-profile sporting events."