The UK’s Gambling Commission has issued a warning to operators over football adverts and sponsorships that could appeal to under-18s.
Teaming up with the Advertising Standards Authority and the Committees of Advertising Practice, the Gambling Commission has reiterated that adverts or sponsorship links from operators must not appear on football website pages that are targeted at children, citing the example of the junior sections of a club’s website.
The Commission also warned against operator logos or other promotional materials appearing on commercial merchandising – replica shirts, for example –designed for use by children.
Further advice was issued stating gambling firms must make terms and conditions for offers clear and in accordance with specific guidance from the ASA; that gambling websites cannot display freely accessible ads featuring images that area likely to appeal particularly to under-18s; and that gambling firms must ensure advertising does not appeal to or target problem gamblers, including advertising that creates an “inappropriate sense of urgency”.
