Spanish betting operators reach consensus on advertising controls
Spanish online gambling trade association Jdigital has communicated that it has reached consensus amongst its partners, who will adhere to new advertising/marketing ‘control measures’ strengthening its code of conduct.
Jdigital’s new provisions have been approved by the DGOJ’s joint committee on gambling standards, conduct and activities, a research body monitoring the behaviour and ethics of licensed gambling enterprises operating across Spain’s autonomous regions.
Updating stakeholders, Jdigital details that it new ‘auto-control’ measures will be enforced across TV, radio and digital advertising verticals, within a period of two months.
Securing industry-wide consensus, Jdigital sanctions that DGOJ licensed operators will stop all marketing activities which engage ‘active athletes’ to promote gambling services.
Supporting self-regulation, all operators will display ‘uniformed messaging’ across their advertising inventory, promoting responsible gambling and under-18 warnings.
Spanish licensed operators will no longer be allowed to advertise during daytime broadcasting and will be banned from promoting their services through direct ‘in programme’ advertorials across TV and digital formats.
Final measures enforced see all incumbents agree to a ‘€200 limit’ on the promotion of welcome bonuses, and that no under-25s will feature in betting advertisements.
“This agreement is the result of a long process of almost a year of work and has been possible thanks to the efforts of all operators,” said JDigital President Mikel López de Torre. “We are very happy to be able to reinforce the message of responsibility with the game that the operators promote since the Law of the Game entered into force in 2012.”
Jdigital will enforce its new code of conduct regardless of the Spanish government’s long-awaited judgement on enforcing its drafted ‘Royal Decree’ on gambling advertising standards – which likely see Spain implement a blanket ban on gambling advertisements.
“Gaming companies have always supported the regulatory development, since it is also our objective to guarantee sufficient protection to users, paying special attention to more sensitive groups, such as minors or players who show pathological behaviours,” López de Torre added.
Source: SBC News
