Gaming - Leading Bookmakers to Implement Advertising Changes

A number of leading bookmakers (William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power) have today announced a response to growing public concerns in relation to vulnerable and young persons with regards the advertising of betting. Both TV advertising at times when children may be watching and shop frontage advertising will be affected by the changes which include the following measures:

From 1 October

• introduction of a voluntary TV advertising ban on sign-up offers (free bets and free money) before 9pm.
• the withdrawal of all advertising of gaming machines from betting office windows.
• the commitment to provide 20% of shop window advertising to responsible gambling messages.

From the start of next year:

• they are to fund a major new advertising campaign to educate people on responsible gambling.
• all TV advertising will carry more prominent responsible gambling messages.
• a new body, the Senet Group, chaired by an independent Standards Commissioner will hold them to account.

Others operators in the industry have been invited to join in implementing the above measures.