Seven Network Breaches Online Gambling Advertising Rules

SYDNEY, Australia (November 1, 2023) — The Seven Network Operations Ltd (Seven) has breached online content rules by showing gambling advertising outside the specified times during live sports coverage on its streaming service.

An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found a gambling advertisement was shown at 10.38am on 7plus during a live stream of an NFL American Football game on 12 December 2022. This breach follows the ACMA publishing a formal warning to Seven in October 2022 for a similar incident.

Gambling promotions cannot be shown during live streams of sporting events between 5am and 8.30pm, including the five minutes before and after a game.

Seven has paid a penalty of $13,320 for the breach, the maximum amount the ACMA is able to apply in these circumstances.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that the Australian public is extremely concerned about the level of exposure to gambling advertising in live sporting coverage across all platforms and broadcasters.

“The ACMA expects broadcasters to have robust systems and processes and associated assurance mechanisms in place to support compliance with these laws,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

In this instance, Seven advised that the streaming of the ad was an isolated event and that it had implemented additional mitigation measures to avoid future error, including additional oversight and training.

“Seven has told us that the measures it has in place are adequate to ensure future compliance and it does not need to do more. Following repeated breaches by Seven, we will continue to closely monitor their compliance with the rules to make sure that is the case,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

Minimising gambling harm continues to be a compliance priority for the ACMA in 2023-24.

SOURCE: Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).