{"id":1283,"date":"2020-04-30T11:34:57","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T11:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newbettingsites.co\/?p=1283"},"modified":"2020-04-30T11:39:10","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T11:39:10","slug":"gambling-firms-voluntarily-withdraw-advertising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newbettingsites.co\/gambling-firms-voluntarily-withdraw-advertising\/","title":{"rendered":"Gambling Firms Voluntarily Withdraw Advertising"},"content":{"rendered":"
With the country still in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever before are stuck at home with not a lot to do.<\/p>\n
It has been rightly pointed out that this could present an issue when it comes to boredom gambling and those with pre-existing gambling problems.<\/p>\n
I have to say, on the whole the response of the gambling industry so far has been commendable. Bet365 have pledged to keep all jobs safe until August at the very earliest, while William Hill’s CEO has donated his salary to furloughed staff members.<\/p>\n
The latest act of social responsibility comes as the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) – the industry association for betting shops, online gaming businesses, and casinos – announced that all firms have agreed to voluntarily withdraw advertising for a minimum of 6 weeks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The decision comes after it was suggested that the industry was exploiting people who were stuck at home, and the BGC seem proud of what their members have agreed to do:<\/p>\n
“We are determined to do everything we can to protect customers potentially at risk during this lockdown period and beyond. I hope now that other major gambling operators like the National Lottery follow our lead”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
These were the words of B<\/a>etting and Gaming Council chief executive, Michael Dugher.<\/a><\/p>\n
The agreement, which starts on May 7th at the latest, covers all above the line marketing and represents a complete blackout on TV and radio advertisements.<\/p>\n
These advertising slots will instead be replaced with responsible gambling messages, donated to charities so that they can use the paid for slots to advertise themselves, or simply removed if the contract allows this.<\/p>\n
Online Adverts Unaffected<\/h3>\n
While this news was welcomed by all, for some it is still not enough.<\/p>\n
Henrietta Bowden-Jones, director of the Central and North West London NHS Trust\u2019s national problem gambling clinic and national centre for gaming disorders, thinks that online adverts should have been included in the advertising blackout.<\/p>\n