ACMA said Seven and Nine breached strict gambling advertising rules

The nation’s two biggest free-to-air broadcasters have been found to have breached strict gambling advertising rules while airing the Tokyo Olympics and 2021 NRL grand final.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 03: The Panthers celebrate with the NRL Premiership Trophy after victory in the 2021 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium on October 03, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Free-to-air broadcasters Seven and Nine have both been found to have breached strict advertising rules by airing gambling promotions during live sporting events.

The media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, on Friday released findings that should both networks breached the rules in 2021.

The investigation found in July and August last year, Seven aired 49 betting promotions during its Tokyo Olympic coverage in the five major capital cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Seven also aired gambling ads on its live streaming of the Games.

While rival network, Nine, broadcast a gambling advertisement during the 2021 NRL grand final between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

The ad ran at 8.21pm during the halftime break.

Existing rules prevent gambling advertising airing during the live coverage of sporting events between 5am and 8.30pm, but these ads can be shown after 8.30pm during defined breaks.

For longer sporting events including the Olympic Games, broadcasters are not permitted to run gambling advertising from five minutes before the start of the first event of the day and must wait until after 8.30pm to do so.

The ads must not be shown more than once every two hours during the permitted times and the rules are also applicable to live streaming.

ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the broadcasters know the rules and must adhere to them.

“Both Seven and Nine are well aware that they have to keep these ads to certain times,” she said.

“Many families enjoy watching sport as a shared activity and parents worry that children exposed to these ads may normalise betting as a part of sport.

“It is disappointing that both networks have failed to meet their responsibilities on such high-profile sporting events.”

Both networks have entered court-enforceable undertakings with the media regulator and must take steps to prevent the rules being broken again and also provide training to staff responsible for advertising content.

Seven has also been given a formal warning about its live stream breaches.