By Trend News Line 2024-06-25 01:33:17.
ACMA Finds Kayo Breaches Gambling Advertising Laws
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has recently uncovered a breach in gambling advertising laws by Kayo, a sports streaming platform owned by Foxtel and provided by Hubbl Pty Limited. The investigation stemmed from multiple complaints regarding the airing of gambling advertisements during live sporting events outside of the permitted times.
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System Error Leads to Advertising Breaches
After a thorough investigation, ACMA discovered that 16 gambling adverts were shown outside the allowable time frame across 267 live sports events. Hubbl attributed this error to a technical glitch affecting viewers using iOS applications over a six-week period in February and March 2023.
Under current regulations, online content providers are prohibited from airing gambling ads during live sports events between 5 am and 8.30 pm, including five minutes before and after the event. The scale of the error and Hubbl’s failure to rectify the system bug promptly raised serious concerns among the ACMA officials.
ACMA’s Response and Remedial Action
ACMA Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood expressed disappointment in Hubbl’s oversight, emphasizing the importance of adhering to long-standing gambling advertising rules to protect vulnerable audiences from excessive exposure to such content. In response to the breach, ACMA issued Hubbl a remedial direction mandating an external audit of its technical systems and processes to prevent future violations. Failure to comply may result in penalties of up to $626,000 per day imposed by the Federal Court.
Previous Gambling Advertising Violation
This is not the first instance of Kayo facing scrutiny over gambling advertising. In April last year, the platform received a formal warning for breaching advertising rules during an AFL match in May 2022. ACMA identified two wagering company ads aired five minutes before the game and during breaks, prompting concerns about the impact on viewers, especially children.
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In response to the earlier violation, Kayo attributed the issue to a technical error, with Streamotion acknowledging an “edge case bug” in the system. Despite the regrettable oversight, only a limited number of Kayo accounts were exposed to the gambling ads due to the system glitch.
Government Initiatives and Public Concerns
The recent breach comes amid growing discussions and complaints regarding the pervasive influence of gambling advertising in sports. The Federal Government has been deliberating on imposing restrictions on such ads during sporting events, with a parliamentary committee advocating for a phased ban within the next three years. The NSW Government’s Reclaim the Game initiative aims to combat the normalization of betting in sports and reduce the exposure of young audiences to gambling promotions.
As public awareness of the detrimental effects of excessive gambling advertising increases, initiatives like Reclaim the Game strive to educate fans on responsible gambling practices. With millions of sports enthusiasts reached through various campaigns, efforts are being made to shift perceptions and behaviors regarding sports betting.
Conclusion
The ongoing debate surrounding gambling advertising in sports underscores the need for stringent regulations and proactive measures by content providers to safeguard viewers, particularly vulnerable demographics, from harmful influences. As authorities continue to monitor compliance and enforce penalties for violations, the industry faces heightened scrutiny and calls for greater responsibility in promoting safe and ethical content..
ACMA investigation finds Kayo breach gambling advertising rules
ACMA investigation finds Hubbl breach gambling advertising rules.
