SBC News Senet Group backs pre-watershed TV ban on betting advertising

Senet Group backs pre-watershed TV ban on betting advertising

senetgroupBusiness news source the Financial Times reports that leading UK operators, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Paddy Power are set to introduce a voluntary ban on advertising free bets and free money gambling offers before UK TV watershed of 21:00.

The four operators, founding members of the recently launched independent gambling advertising standards commissioner ‘The Senet Group’, hope that the actions taken will alleviate public concerns regarding the impact of aggressively marketed gambling adverts on young viewers watching live sports.

Concerns about mass gambling/betting advertising targeting football broadcasts had been outlined by the English Premier League who stated that betting was becoming “part of the parcel” of viewing live football.

Fearing growing concerns regarding betting’s close association with live Football, The Football Association (FA), reported that it had begun its own independent study into the impact of betting advertising on football viewers and the protection of young audiences.

The top four operators stated that they would look to work closely with Premier League and FA bodies in order to ensure best practice on marketing of betting products and promotions. The operators stated that they were fully aware of public and organisational/governing concerns regarding betting advertising in English football.

Financial and industry research company Davy Group, reported that gambling advertising targeting football matches had grown 15% in the first half of 2014. Davy Group also recorded that ‘Free Money’ and ‘Free Bet’ incentives/promotions accounted for two thirds of the messaging by betting operators.

The introduction of Senet Group standards and practices, has been criticised by members of UK political parties. Clive Efford, Labour Party spokesman for gambling, commented that the groups actions would prove to be pointless

“Will the group have enforcement powers if its members transgress the code of conduct? It’s not really an independent watchdog if it’s not worth the paper it’s written on,”

Further criticisms have pointed out that English football clubs are too deeply linked with betting operators, with the majority of clubs having some form of promotional partnership, which would see sports betting being promoted on a weekly basis.

A curve on football betting advertising pre watershed would therefore have little impact on protection of UK sports viewers

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