DSWV fires back against calls for a sports betting ad ban in Germany
German Sports Betting Association rails against federal commissioner for addiction and drugs for suggesting sports betting marketing be banned on TV, radio and online before 9pm
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has hit back at calls for a ban on gambling advertising made by federal narcotic drug commissioner Burkhard Blienert.
Blienert urged lawmakers to ban gambling, alcohol and tobacco advertising on radio, TV and online before 9pm, in line with current restrictions on online casino advertising.
He cited the examples of Belgium and the Netherlands, where gambling ad bans are being phased in due to public health concerns.
At the time, Blienert’s statement said: “The over-presence of large-format advertising for alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes at kiosks and petrol stations and for gambling on television is a major construction site [sic] for German consumer protection, youth and health policy.
“Tobacco, alcohol and sports betting are far too present in the public space. Something needs to change, and I will drive that change.
“The vast majority of the population no longer wants alcohol advertising, they demand a stop to all sponsorship of tobacco products or by sports betting providers in football. Politicians can no longer ignore that,” the federal commissioner added.
Currently, gambling firms can’t use active athletes, officials or those deemed to be influencers in their marketing.
Blienert has proposed that the ban should include sports sponsorships, noting he has had support from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) on this issue in the past.
In response to Blienert’s claims, the DSWV has said there has been parliamentary criticism of the ban proposal, pointing to a statement from Tobias Krull, a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentarian in the state legislature of Saxony-Anhalt.
The CDU politician argued that such a move would go beyond the framework of the Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty and infringe on the powers of federal states. He also asserted that an advertising ban could compromise player protection by giving an advantage to unlicensed operators.
Krull’s statement said: “Approved game and betting providers are bound by strict guidelines on youth protection and addiction prevention.
“If there is an advertising ban for legal offers, there is a considerable risk that unregulated gaming opportunities will be used more frequently without the appropriate support and protection mechanisms.
“We want to ensure that people with problematic addictive behaviour are recognised quickly, and therefore reject the request of the federal government’s addiction commissioner,” he concluded.