ANJ, the French National Association of Gambling Operators, recently published its charter committing to de-intensify gambling advertising. This is a welcome move by the gambling industry and a step in the right direction to address public concerns about the normalization of gambling and its potential harms.
The charter includes a number of measures to reduce the visibility and intensity of gambling advertising, including limiting ad spending, restricting ad content, and ensuring responsible placement of ads. While this is not a comprehensive solution to the problem of gambling addiction, it is a positive step that should be applauded.
We hope that other countries and jurisdictions will follow suit and commit to similar measures to protect vulnerable members of the population from the harmful effects of excessive gambling.
French Gambling Four Commitment Charter
The ANJ has published its charter for commitment to de-intensify gambling advertising. The charter sets out four commitments that the ANJ will make to reduce the intensity of gambling advertising and to protect vulnerable people, particularly children.
The first commitment is to reduce the visibility of gambling ads. This will be done by reducing the number of gambling ads on TV and online, and by making sure that gambling ads are not shown during children’s programming.
The second commitment is to reduce the frequency of gambling ads. This means that gambling ads will not be shown more than once every hour on TV and that they will not be shown more than twice a day on the radio.
The third commitment is to reduce the prominence of gambling ads. This means that gambling ads will not be given prime-time or daytime slots on TV and that they will not be placed on websites where they would be highly visible.
The fourth commitment is to ensure that all gambling ads are responsibly produced. This means that they must comply with strict rules on content, including rules on depicting violence, sexual content, or under-18s.
There is no doubt that gambling advertising has a significant impact on consumers, especially young people. Research has shown that gambling advertising increases the likelihood of problem gambling behavior and that exposure to gambling ads is a risk factor for developing gambling problems.
Gambling ads also have a normalizing effect on gambling behavior, making it seem like a more commonplace activity than it actually is. This can lead people to take up gambling who would not otherwise do so or to gamble more frequently than they otherwise would.
There are many actors involved in gambling advertising, including broadcasters, publishers, platforms, advertisers, and agencies.
- Broadcasters are responsible for ensuring that gambling ads comply with the broadcasting code and do not target children or vulnerable people.
- Publishers are responsible for ensuring that gambling ads comply with the advertising codes and do not target children or vulnerable people.
- Platforms are responsible for ensuring that gambling ads do not target children or vulnerable people.
- Advertisers are responsible for ensuring that their gambling ads comply with the advertising codes and do not target children or vulnerable people.
- Agencies are responsible for ensuring that gambling ads they place on behalf of their clients comply with the advertising codes and do not target children or vulnerable people.
It is important that any action taken on gambling advertising is evidence-based and effective in reducing its harm.