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The German association of German private media Vaunet called for a revision of the planned advertising restrictions on the iGaming industry claiming that those will impact broadcasters. Vaunet, which has over 150 TV, radio, streaming and online media companies among its members, said in a statement that it broadly welcomes the proposed liberalization of the German gambling market, with online casino to be legalized alongside sports betting.
However as Dr Matthias Kirschenhofer, chair of Vaunet’s explained “Advertising is the financing basis for private broadcasters and an instrument that steers legal games in the gaming market, the regulatory goal of the federal states. The State Treaty on Gaming offers the opportunity for private individuals Broadcasters to generate new advertising revenue.
The planned advertising restrictions do not take sufficient account of the economic development of media companies in relation to other media types. They are ultimately at the expense of investments in attractive content. We therefore appeal to the federal states to make improvements here again”.
Vaunet particularly criticizes the provisions according to which advertising for virtual slot machines, online poker and online casino games should not be possible between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on radio and the Internet. In addition, advertising for sports betting should be strictly prohibited immediately before or during the live transmission of sports events to the respective sports event.
These restrictions put broadcasters at a disadvantage in competition with other advertising media, for which this limitation does not apply. Radio and television stations are fully aware of their responsibility under the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty. Especially in a regulated broadcasting environment, the promotion of regulated gambling should not be prohibited.
There have not yet been any comparable time limits for advertising regulation on the Internet. In addition, a connection between live interim scores of sporting events and advertising for sports betting on this sporting event should not be permitted. However, live tickers are an integral part of the online content of all media houses. In reality, such a rule would amount to a ban on advertising sports betting on media and news portals.
In the opinion of Vaunet, the regulations are not suitable for guiding gamers effectively to controlled and protected offers. In order for legal providers to prevail against illegal offers, they must be able to offer competitive offers and advertise them adequately.
