Network Ten has been found to have breached gambling advertising rules by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over ads broadcast on streaming service 10 Play during football matches.
Viewer complaints that 10 Play had broadcast gambling ads during two live-streamed sports events in October last year, the A-League Women's Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets match and a Socceroos friendly match against England, prompted an ACMA investigation.
Under current laws, gambling advertisements must not be shown by online content providers during live sport events between 5am and 8.30pm, including in the five minutes before and after the event.
New laws are under consideration from the federal government which would further limit the volume of gambling ads to two an hour during regular program while maintaining a ban around on during sporting events.
ACMA Member Carolyn Lidgerwood urged Network Ten to do better to ensure its gambling advertising placements comply with legal requirements.
“These rules are in place to minimise potential harm caused by gambling promotional content,” Lidgerwood said.
“Streaming services are expected to have systems in place to provide their ads in line with the law.”
Network Ten was issued with a formal warning for the breach, but will by subject to further enforcement if it again breaches the gambling ad rules.
“This is the first time Ten has breached the rules around gambling advertising in live sports and it has co-operated with us throughout our investigation,” ACMA said.
Ten claimed the breach was due to an error in a manual coding process and it has now upgraded its processes.
