In the UK, GambleAware appeals for more impactful cautions in gambling advertisements.
The UK's GambleAware advocacy group is pushing for modifications to the current alerts in gambling promotions. A study commissioned by the organization found that the current tagline is not particularly effective in highlighting the potential harm resulting from gambling.
Current warning notices critiqued
In a May 13 press release [link in English], GambleAware requests that warnings in gambling advertising focus more on the health risks. The organization recently conducted a survey with over 7,000 participants.
The respondents felt that the existing warning "Take Time To Think" was insufficient in addressing the health hazards associated with gambling. GambleAware expresses concern that these notices don't convey the potential detrimental health consequences of gambling:
'Gambling harm is a significant public health concern and it's crucial that people are aware of the dangers associated with it. The findings of this groundbreaking study underscore the need to replace the blanket industry-wide slogan 'Take Time To Think' with more powerful health warnings.
We are also apprehensive about the inappropriate use of the GambleAware logo by operators and the lack of clear guidance to support channels. We urge the industry to examine the ever-growing body of evidence that underscores the need for more stringent safety measures and restrictions."- Alexia Clifford, GambleAware Communications Director, GambleAware
Some participants also erroneously comprehended or misremembered the message. GambleAware calls for the implementation of new warnings as a matter of urgency.
GambleAware suggests new slogans
During the study, GambleAware devised new warning labels and asked participants for their opinions on them. After examining the results, three slogans were determined to be highly meaningful:
- Gambling entails a cost
- Gambling is addictive (gambling can be addictive)
- Gambling can captivate anyone (gambling can grip anyone)
These slogans would highlight the risk of gambling addiction and potential harm to health. 46% of respondents believed that the warning "that gambling can be addictive" had a particularly powerful impact. The other two slogans also met GambleAware's criteria and were, therefore, endorsed by the organization.
GambleAware proposes that the previous slogan "Take Time To Think (TTTT)" be discontinued.
Visual design recommendations for warnings
Besides proposing new warning phrases, GambleAware has also put forth suggestions for the visual design of the slogans. The warnings should cover 20% of a gambling advertisement's surface. A white line should separate the advertisement from the warning.
The new notices should be positioned on a black background in white text to make them stand out from the advertisement. The study also includes GambleAware's logo and references to its services: Advice, Tools & Support.
GambleAware additionally proposes replacing the existing "safer gambling banner" with an 18+ logo for gambling advertising.
Study from April 2024 supports demands
GambleAware had previously voiced concerns regarding the rules on gambling promotions a few weeks prior. A study from April 2024 indicated that gambling advertising is frequently undistinguishable from promotions for games due to the absence of warnings. Children in particular become confused between advertisements for games and gambling.
This could be due to the absence of warnings, among other reasons. According to the study, the current slogan "Take Time To Think" implies that players should stop gambling when they no longer enjoy it. The potential health risks were not mentioned.
GambleAware advocated for stricter regulation of gambling advertising in April in light of these findings. The proposed warnings could contribute to this development. It remains to be seen how politicians will respond to GambleAware's pleas.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
