ACMA warns 10 players for violations of gambling advertising regulations

Amid government plans to overhaul Australia’s gambling rules, Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the advertising and communications regulator, has announced that it has issued a warning to a streaming service provider that violate the established rules regarding gambling advertising.

Under current rules, online content providers may: may not show gambling advertising during live sporting events between 05:00 and 20:30. This rule applies five minutes before and after each sporting event.

However, as confirmed by ACMA, an investigation has found that Network Ten’s streaming service, 10 Gamesviolate the established rules for gambling advertising after presenting such advertisements during a prohibited time period.

The Authority’s investigation followed a complaint filed by a viewer who reported seeing gambling adverts during a Women’s A-League match and a friendly with England. The advertising regulator confirmed that the breaches related to the A-League Women’s Central Coast Mariners vs Newcastle Jets matchas well as a Socceroos vs England friendly matchThe above mentioned matches were streamed live on October 14, 2023.

In light of the above violations, 10 Play has taken a formal warningIn addition, ACMA promised to take further enforcement action against the streaming service for any subsequent violations of the established regulations.

“The ACMA may take further enforcement action if Ten again breaches the rules on gambling advertising for online content providers,“

reads a statement from ACMA

Gambling advertising rules must reduce harm from gambling

Carolyn Lidgerwooda member of ACMA, acknowledged that Network Ten needs to make further efforts to ensure compliance with the regulatory framework. “These rules are there to minimize the potential harm caused by promotional gambling content“, she added.

Furthermore, Lidgerwood pointed out the importance of offering gambling advertisements in accordance with the law. Finally, she explained that 10 Play collaborated with ACMA and added that this was the network first offense.

“Streaming services are expected to have systems in place to deliver their advertising in accordance with the law.“

Carolyn Lidgerwood, Member of ACMA

10 Play acknowledged the violation of gambling regulations. The streaming service confirmed that the violation was “due to an error in a manual coding process.” However, 10 Play confirmed that an upgrade has been made to internal processes to ensure that gambling advertising scheduling complies with the regulatory framework.

Last month, ACMA confirmed the ban of two more offshore gambling operators. At the time, the Authority discovered two operators violating the country’s gambling regulations and imposed the sanction.