Tweet by Winamax faces criticism.
The French gaming authority, ANJ, has recently expressed its disapproval towards the online poker and sports betting provider Winamax after a controversial tweet they posted caused an outburst among certain politicians. The tweet was related to the Champions League (CL) semi-final matches and used texts from the French rap duo PNL. The offending tweet has since been removed. So, what sparked this criticism from the ANJ?
Homophobic Language?
The ANJ, which was formed not too long ago, spoke out for the first time and chastised Winamax for the said tweet about Olympique Lyon and Paris Saint Germain. The tweet generated criticism from politics, particularly from the French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, who considered the language employed in the tweet to be discriminatory. One member of the National Assembly even urged the ANJ to revoke Winamax's license.
Did Winamax Cross the Line?
The ANJ criticized the tweet, stating that such remarks are unsuitable for a major gambling operator. Such statements should portray gambling in a positive light, promoting trust in players and a responsible, sustainable market.
Despite the criticism, the ANJ acknowledged that the laws of the French online gambling landscape enacted in May 2010 and amended in October 2019 likely won't find Winamax at fault. Since the tweet's removal, Winamax has followed legal requirements. A valid reason for license revocation doesn't exist.
No License Revocation Without a Hearing
The ANJ made it clear that a legal hearing is necessary to enforce penalties such as license revocation against Winamax. Before any decision can be made, the operator should be given an opportunity to justify its conduct. However, the ANJ acknowledges that PNL's texts in question are a French rap duo that gained immense popularity.
Regulating Gambling Marketing
Winamax should exercise caution when using provocative statements that might pique gambling interest among young people in the future. The ANJ added that licensed operators are bound by law to follow such restrictions. October will be crucial for Winamax, as, according to the French gambling laws, marketing strategies from all licensed operators need to be submitted to the regulator for approval by the 30th of each year. The authority emphasized that it would scrutinize marketing concepts thoroughly, with a particular focus on Winamax.
The gambling industry has undergone a transformation in France with the emergence of ANJ. The main aim was to align with the evolving European gambling landscape, which primarily revolves around online gambling. ANJ's purview includes:
- 14 licensed online gambling operators
- Online, lottery, and betting games handled by Française des Jeux (FDJ)
- The entire single-ticket betting offices network of Pari-Mutuel Urbain
- 202 land-based French casinos
In addition, the ANJ recently had a scandal involving homophobia in gambling advertising in the UK with the betting giant, Paddy Power. One of their sports portal clips contained harsh insults and homophobic content, which drew criticism on social media and calls for immediate removal from the competition. Paddy Power responded with an official apology online, admitting the failure.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
