Governments in some European countries have banned gambling advertising on most platforms, believing it provokes gambling addiction.The gambling industry is gaining momentum globally, and officials are considering stricter regulations to ensure gambling does not harm those who enjoy testing their luck. In countries such as the UAE, North Korea, Austria, Singapore, France, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, there are already strict restrictions on gambling promotion.
Lithuania
On February 12, 2024, Lithuanian deputies registered amendments to the gambling law, proposing further restrictions on gambling advertising from 2025, reports LRT.
About 50 deputies, mostly from the ruling majority, signed the amendments prohibiting the dissemination of information about gambling companies sponsoring any public events or the activities of individuals or legal entities. If these amendments are adopted, it will lead to a ban on advertising betting shops and casinos on television, in newspapers, magazines, news websites, and on billboards.
Neither the names nor logos of gambling operators will be allowed to appear on athletes’ shirts or in arenas during sporting events. Companies will only be able to publish information about gambling in gambling establishments or on the company’s website, which is listed in the gambling regulations.
Read also: DraftKings Exits the European Market.
Belgium
The Belgian government decided to ban gambling advertising on various platforms from July 1, 2023, to combat addiction and debt, according to Reuters.
Gambling advertising is prohibited on television, radio, in cinemas, magazines, and newspapers, as well as in public places. Online advertising on websites and social media will also be banned. Gambling companies are prohibited from sponsoring sporting events, using influencers, and so on. Promotion of online casinos is allowed only on websites pre-approved by the Belgian Gambling Commission.
Gambling advertising is also permitted through targeting, with ads shown on television channels and radio stations after 8:00 PM, and it must be directed only to individuals over the age of 21.
From January 1, 2025, there will be an additional ban on advertising in stadiums, and from January 1, 2028, gambling companies will no longer be able to sponsor professional sports clubs, such as football teams.
The Netherlands
In February 2024, Dutch politician Derk Boswijk from the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party proposed a complete ban on gambling advertising in the country, citing concerns for youth and vulnerable groups.
If this law is passed, it will further reduce the visibility of gambling brands and services after a ban on most forms of gambling advertising, including television, radio, and print media, was introduced last year. This move also banned advertising on billboards, street signs, and bus stops.
The Netherlands still allows targeted advertising in limited forms, including social media, online gambling platforms, and embedded in on-demand streaming content.
Ukraine
In October 2023, Ukraine changed its gambling advertising rules. As a result, gambling ads are now banned on TV and radio from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, in scientific periodicals, in print media (except specialized publications dedicated to gambling), on the external and internal surfaces of vehicles and in the subway, on outdoor advertising platforms, on products primarily intended for persons under 21, and at entertainment, theater, concert, and sports events, or other events for persons under 21.
Violators face fines and license revocation. This decision was triggered by the legalization of the gambling market, which has only just begun to take off, prompting gambling operators to make their brands as loud, bright, and large-scale as possible to increase brand recognition. Did you find the news interesting and informative? Want more of the latest gambling news and stay updated on the events? Subscribe to our ‘Gambling News’ section and receive notifications about fresh publications. If you found this publication helpful and interesting, we recommend subscribing to our breaking gambling news to receive notifications about the latest updates and stay informed about current events.
