The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), which is the body responsible for the regulation of broadcasting, television and radio communications, and online content, has called for a further extension for the ban on gambling advertisements in the country.
The watchdog proposed for further changes to be brought to the restrictions aimed at protecting local children from reaching gambling promotional content at the time of live sports events streamed on the Internet. The proposed amendments require creating a “safe zone” across traditional and new media platforms during live sports events in which children are more likely to be part of the audience.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has been developing some draft rules aimed at suspending gambling advertising during live sports events streamed online in the period between 5:00 AM and 8:30 PM. The revised rules also seek to see restricted gambling advertising at other times. At the end of March 2018, the Federal Government of Australia banned daytime gambling advertising from broadcasting platforms in order to more actively protect local customers from possible gambling-related harm.
Second-Round Consultation Sees Revised Draft Rules
This is the second-round consultation on the matter released by the ACMA, following an earlier draft released in April 2018. This time, the revised draft rules take into account some comments made by account shareholders during a consultation on the previous round, which was held between April 12th and May 10th 2018.
At the time of the previous round of consultation, a total of 14 submissions were received. Now, the areas of proposed changes offered by the Australian Communication and Markets Authority include enhanced flexibility for providers when it comes to notifying end-users of the scheduled beginning of a sporting event. What is more, the previously proposed class exemption concerning small digital content service providers has been removed in the second round of the consultation.
The new measures proposed by the ACMA in terms of the online gambling advertising rules further include a new exception from a breach in certain circumstances which can not be controlled by a service provider. The changes also include a restriction of a proposed exemption for age-restricted services to providers which are offering their services under Australian operating licences. Furthermore, an extended 30-day implementation period is proposed before the new ACMA rules are brought into action.
Submissions on the revised draft rules can be made, with the watchdog accepting them until July 26th 2018. Commentary on the proposed amendments can be made online, by uploading a submission or sending an e-mail to the Authority. Comments and subscriptions are set to be published as soon as the consultation period ends.
Back in May 2017, the Federal Government of Australia announced a reform package including certain restrictions on gambling advertising during live sports events across broadcast and digital platforms. The Australian Communications and Media Authority registered new codes of practice for television and radio broadcasting sectors on March 12th 2018, which as mentioned above came into force on March 30th 2018.
- Author
Daniel Williams
