ASA discovers 70 betting ad breaches on child-facing websites

Seventy sports betting adverts appeared on child-facing websites during Q2 2020, according to the latest data from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).The ASA discovered 70 ads from four gambling operators appeared across eight sites accessible by minors as it conducted its quarterly online monitoring sweep.The ad regulator declined to name and shame the offending operators and contacted the advertisers involved to ensure the ads were removed.However, ASA media and public affairs manager Matt Wilson told EGR that further action may be taken against operators found repeatedly in breach of guidelines.“Our intention is to identify and engage advertisers whose compliance processes, including those of the third parties they contract with, fall short of the standards required to meet their obligations under the UK advertising codes,” Wilson explained.“If, following that engagement, we see repeated breaches of our rules, we reserve the right to sanction the advertiser including by means of publicity,” he added.Researchers from the ASA scrutinised 49 websites expressly aimed at children and young people under the age of 18 during Q2, as well as those which attract a disproportionately high audience of children and young people.Seven YouTube channels aimed at children and young people were also included to assess the prevalence of gambling ads.In Q2, a total of 35 advertisers breached ASA rules relating to age-restricted content appearing on child-facing websites and YouTube channels.