Foxtel lands in hot water as it breaks Australian gambling ad rules

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation of Foxtel has found that it has been in breach of gambling advert rules. The investigation was launched in April 2024 and concluded in December 2024, but the ACMA is only now publishing its findings.

ACMA’s issue is that a digital banner promoting a wagering company was displayed during an Australian Football League match without the necessary warning message alongside it.

As AFL is broadcast over subscription TV, Foxtel has to abide by the code of practice in place. Gambling advertisements of any kind need to be displayed with a message for responsible gambling.

ACMA is incredibly strict about these rules, with member Carolyn Lidgerwood saying: “These messages must emphasise the potential harms and risks of gambling if it is not undertaken responsibly.

“An ‘18+’ logo on its own is not an adequate responsible gambling message.”

There’s no financial loss or fine being applied here. Instead, Foxtel has agreed to training sessions for its staff and to report back to ACMA in the future.

Foxtel is a joint venture between the Murdoch-owned News Corp Australia and Telstra, on a 65-35 split. For those in the UK, its services and boxes are similar to Sky.

ACMA has also been in Telstra’s circle in recent days. On March 6, it fined the company $626,000 after it pushed “close to 10.5 million text messages” that broke Australian spam laws.

On February 19, it also found that Network 10 in Sydney had also breached gambling ad rules during a Formula 1 Grand Prix broadcast. This happened during March 2024, with the investigation only recently concluding.

This differs slightly, as it pertains to broadcasting gambling adverts during hours when it’s prohibited. Network 10 broadcast the offending advert, which it claims was a simple human error, during the 5 am and 8:30 pm ruling. Again, this has resulted in no fine, but staff training is recommended.

Featured image: Wikicommons, Foxtel

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