Latest news with #NationalGamblingAct
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Are gambling advertisements putting minors at risk?
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau stated that the National Gambling Act prohibited the placing of gambling advertisement in the media primarily directed at persons under the age of 18. Image: Supplied Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said the National Gambling Board has found that several advertising and marketing practices by gambling operators did not fully comply with the framework of responsible gambling messaging and protecting minors. Tau said the review by the National Gambling Board found instances of inadequate display of responsible gambling warnings. 'This is done by a number of players, both on online platforms and in public advertisements. There is also exposure to minors,' he said. He was responding to oral questions sponsored by Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana on Friday, when he enquired whether the recent advertising and marketing campaigns by gambling and betting companies comply with the National Gambling Act. Gana also wanted to know whether he has found that the lack of National Gambling Policy Council meetings since March 2018 has contributed to the gambling crisis and lack of accountability in the gambling and betting sector. In his response, Tau stated that the National Gambling Act prohibited the placing of gambling advertisement in media primarily directed at persons under the age of 18. 'The board has noted that advertisements have been frequently aired during family viewing times, including during popular shows such as MasterChef and Junior MasterChef,' he said. 'Gambling advertising has been observed on radio streaming websites and platforms, such as YouTube, often without responsible gambling disclaimers. And there's the issue of sponsorship. 'The sponsorship of family-friendly programmes by major bookmakers increases the visibility and frequency of gambling advertisements during television content that is widely consumed by minors,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to Tau, the National Gambling Board has engaged with the provincial gambling boards on the said contraventions and intends to advise the National Gambling Policy Council at the next meeting. 'I have instructed the department to convene the National Gambling Policy Council without further delay so that there are coordinated efforts and evaluation on all the challenges,' he said. The National Gambling Policy Council, which is mandated to consult on the determination and establishment of the national gambling policy and laws, last held its meeting in March 2018. This takes place as the National Gambling Board has been without a board since September 2014. Tau said his department has initiated the process of appointing a board and a CEO to stabilise governance at the National Gambling Board. Asked about plans to regulate online gambling, Tau said there was an intention to regulate the space of online gambling. 'Of course, it is an environment in which different provinces have taken different approaches, and in certain instances, some of the provinces have promoted such online gambling practices. 'So it certainly is our intention to intervene in that regard, but also to ensure the implementation of rehabilitation of edits to gambling in a coordinated manner with the provinces.' Gana noted with concern that advertising by betting companies was seen even on the screens in the offices of the Department of Home Affairs. 'I don't know where the next stop is going to be. As the custodian of gambling in South Africa, the National Gambling Act, how does that make you feel when you see this gambling at the Home Affairs, gambling, I mean, advertising 24 hours a day? And what are you going to do about this to ensure that South Africans are protected from this proliferation of gambling and sports betting advertisements?' asked Gana. Tau said they were extremely concerned about the proliferation of advertisements for gambling in public places and in spaces that were accessible to underage children. 'Two things that need to happen and that's part of what we'll be discussing in the policy council. The first is about enhanced enforcement of existing regulations, a lot of which are within the purview of the provincial gambling board,' he said. 'We need to ensure that there is enhanced enforcement and coordination by the national government of the enforcement initiatives in the provinces. The second is an enhancement of the regulatory framework. 'So we do intend to review the regulations in line with the study that we have done, which indicates the gaps that have been identified among others in the study, but also by indicating the gaps that have been identified,' he said. Gana said their position was that the admission by Tau on flouting of advertising and marketing regulations by gambling operators was not enough. 'There have to be proper, clear regulations that are in line with the National Gambling Act that the minister must publish so that anyone who operates in that space must know what is the right way of advertising. 'That is why we have a petition that is currently on the go where we are asking South Africans to support our petition for the formulation of clear regulations insofar as gambling and sports betting advertising,' he said.
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- The Citizen
Online gambling and betting advertising is non-compliant with Gambling Act — minister
South Africans have noticed that gambling and betting advertising is getting very intrusive, but there are plans for better regulation. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has confirmed in parliament that the advertising for online gambling and betting does not comply with the National Gambling Act, but emphasised that a crack-down is coming. He was responding to a question from Makashule Gana, an MP for Rise Mzansi, whether the recent advertising and marketing campaigns of gambling and betting companies comply with the National Gambling Act and related regulations and policies. Tau said in his reply that the National Gambling Board reviewed recent gambling and betting advertising campaigns to see if they comply with the National Gambling Act and National Gambling Regulations. 'The findings indicate that a number of gambling operators' current advertising and marketing practices do not fully comply with the legislative and regulatory framework, particularly regarding responsible gambling messaging and protection of minors. ALSO READ: Did you know online gambling is illegal in SA? Here are plans to stop it Online gambling and betting skipping statutory warnings Tau said online gambling operators are contravening regulation 3(2) of the National Gambling Regulations about the inadequate display of responsible gambling warnings, which requires that any advertisement must include a clear and prominent statement warning against the dangers of addictive and compulsive gambling. In a video or television advertisement, this message must incorporate at a minimum the name, toll-free number and slogan of the National Responsible Gambling Programme, and it must be published in visual format so that each slogan appears in a legible and noticeable format for at least three seconds. 'The responsible gambling message was barely visible and appeared only briefly, which undermines the intent of the regulation.' ALSO READ: R1.1 trillion worth of online bets in a year: Does SA need to rein in digital gambling? Children exposed to online gambling and betting advertising He said online gambling operators also contravened regulation 3(1)(i)(i) of the National Gambling Regulations in these ways: Exposure to minors: prohibits placing gambling advertisements in media primarily directed at children under the age of eighteen, but the Board noticed that advertisements are frequently aired during family viewing times, including during popular shows, such as MasterChef and Junior MasterChef, as well as during sports matches where the audience is likely to include minors. Tau says this is contrary to the Act, which prohibits gambling for individuals under 18. Advertising during these time slots also increases the risk of normalising gambling behaviour among young viewers. Targeted online and streaming advertising: Tau said gambling advertisements were observed on radio streaming websites and platforms such as YouTube, often without responsible gambling disclaimers. These platforms do not adequately verify the age of users, allowing easy access to gambling content by minors. 'This raises serious concerns regarding the enticement of underage children to participate in gambling activities,' he said. Sponsorship and product placement: the sponsorship of family-friendly programmes by major bookmakers results in increased visibility and frequency of gambling advertisements during television content widely consumed by minors and families. Tau said this form of marketing bypasses regulatory intentions to protect vulnerable groups from gambling influence. Tau said the board engaged the provincial gambling boards about the contraventions and intends to advise the National Gambling Policy Council Meeting of the matter for resolution. 'Therefore, the department and the board will focus on implementing corrective measures in the next cycle.' ALSO READ: 'Let's make gambling safer': New bill targets unfair online gambling practices National Gambling Policy Council stepping up soon Gana also wanted to know whether Tau found that the lack of National Gambling Policy Council meetings since March 2018 contributed to the gambling crisis and lack of accountability in the gambling and betting sector. Tau said he will convene the National Gambling Policy Council soon. 'Gambling is a functional area of concurrent competence between national and provincial government in terms of the constitution, and therefore requires intergovernmental cooperation. 'The statutory mandate of the Council in terms of section 62 of the National Gambling Act includes consulting on the determination and establishment of the national gambling policy and laws, including the promotion of uniform national and provincial laws about gambling norms and standards, as well as any matter concerning gambling.' The Council enables provinces and national government to debate and deliberate on policy and ensure alignment of policy and enforcement interventions across the country. Tau said that with the gambling environment evolving, there has been a growth in the industry, which also paved the way for illegal activities, such as online gambling, to thrive. 'In addition, the inability to meet affects uniformity and harmonisation of gambling policy and legislation, which leads to fragmentation in the gambling regulation in the country.' NOW READ: WATCH: Women and pensioners among 'vulnerable' groups, says Gauteng Gambling Board
