Regulatory body in the UK advocates for restrained promotion of gambling during the 2024 European Championships, slated in Germany.
The Euro 2024, scheduled to take place in Germany from June 14, 2024, is causing a stir, not only for the football action but also for the controversy surrounding sports betting advertising.
In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has implemented a ban on celebrity and sports personality endorsements in gambling advertisements. This move is part of tighter advertising regulations introduced in the UK following the Gambling Act review of 2023, aimed at reducing exposure to gambling marketing, especially among vulnerable groups during events like the Euro 2024.
However, there is no specific mention of additional restrictions on gambling advertising specifically tied to the Euro 2024 football championship by the ASA. The UK reforms focus broadly on restricting gambling ad content and endorsements rather than event-specific bans.
In contrast, the EU has not implemented an EU-wide ban on gambling advertising during sports events like the Euro 2024. Regulation is left to individual countries such as Germany and the UK. Germanyβs gambling regulation is governed by its Interstate Gambling Treaty and national laws, but no explicit Euro 2024 betting ad restrictions by the UK ASA apply to Germany, as the ASA regulates UK advertising only.
In Germany, sports betting advertising is a contentious issue, particularly in relation to the upcoming Euro 2024 football championship. The German gambling treaty specifies which types of gambling are permitted in Germany and how advertising is regulated. However, no tightened regulations specific to the Euro 2024 have been announced.
Despite the ongoing discussions, the Euro 2024 is expected to see a significant increase in sports betting. The federal government's drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, called for a ban on sports betting during the Euro 2024 in 2023. However, this prohibition applies only to all formats of advertising outside of the operator's own website.
One notable exception is the sports betting operator Betano, which has been allowed to describe itself as a sponsor of the European Championship, having entered into an official partnership with UEFA.
As the Euro 2024 approaches, sports betting fans are eagerly anticipating the tournament, despite the ongoing discussions about the combination of gambling and sport. Dr. Andreas Blaue, an advertising expert, has stated that "black and white thinking" by various interest groups is not conducive to progress in the ongoing discussion about the combination of gambling and sport.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2023, March 1). Gambling adverts: Ban on celebrity endorsements in UK. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56321130
[2] European Gaming Media and Events. (2022, October 19). EU-wide ban on gambling advertising during sports events yet to be implemented. European Gaming. https://europeangaming.eu/news/eu-wide-ban-on-gambling-advertising-during-sports-events-yet-to-be-implemented/
[3] The Guardian. (2023, February 22). Stricter rules on gambling ads to be introduced in UK. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/feb/22/stricter-rules-on-gambling-ads-to-be-introduced-in-uk
[4] German Gambling Commission. (n.d.). Interstate Treaty on Gambling. German Gambling Commission. https://www.gluest.de/english/interstate-treaty-on-gambling/
[5] The Drum. (2023, March 1). UK's ASA ban on gambling ads during Euro 2024 will not apply in Germany. The Drum. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2023/03/01/uks-asa-ban-gambling-ads-during-euro-2024-will-not-apply-germany
Online casinos in Germany could potentially witness an increase in sports-betting activities during the Euro 2024, despite ongoing discussions about the combination of gambling and sport. In contrast to the UK, Germany's gambling regulation does not currently include specific restrictions on betting advertising tied to the Euro 2024 football championship.
