Advertising Standards Bureau Review of Operations 2016 2016 Review of operations_WEB | Page 24

Changes made - high standards for wagering
advertising set
On 1 July 2016 the Advertising
Standards Bureau (ASB)
began accepting complaints
under the Australian
Association of National
Advertisers (AANA) Wagering
Advertising & Marketing
Communication Code.
The new Code covers advertising or marketing
communications on any medium which is
undertaken by, or on behalf of a licenced operator
of wagering product or services.
This includes advertising for betting on horse
races, harness races, greyhound races, sporting
events, novelty events or other contingencies (or
a series of races, events or contingencies); but
does not include gaming, such as casino games
or electronic gaming machines, keno, lotto and
lottery products or trade promotions.
Parameters of the Wagering Code were set early
with an independent review indicating that the
Board was fair to take a broad interpretation
of what constitutes a ‘wagering activity’ (Case
0447/16). The Board has determined that it is not
necessary for an advertisement to depict someone
placing a wager to constitute a wagering activity,
and that depicting someone using a wagering app
or website is enough to meet this definition.
For the purposes of this code, Wagering Product
or Service includes betting on fantasy sport teams,
odds compilation and tipping services offered or
provided by a Licensed Operator.
Companies advertising wagering products or
services need to ensure they are familiar with the
provisions of the new AANA Code, or risk their
campaign being banned.
Between 1 July and 31 December 2016, the
Advertising Standards Board considered 10 cases
under its provisions and upheld complaints
about three under the new AANA Wagering
Advertising & Marketing Communication Code
(the Wagering Code).
While the Board previously considered gambling
advertising under the Health and Safety provision
of the AANA Code of Ethics (and will continue
to do so for advertisements not falling within
the provisions of the Wagering Code or for
non-wagering related issues in a wagering ad),
the new Wagering Code has allowed the Board
to take a stronger stance on specific issues in
wagering advertising, particularly around issues
of depiction of minors and excess participation in
wagering activities.
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Advertising Standards Bureau