AGCO Removes Gambling Ads from Sports Complex in Ontario

Advertisements of sports betting brand theScore Bet were removed this month from the Canlan Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario. Following an official complaint filed by the advocacy group Ban Ads for Gambling, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) ordered to have the ads removed from the sports arena.

As reported by the Waterloo Region Record, Timothy Dewhirst, father of a 13-year-old hockey player from Guelph, was the one who brought attention to the violation back in April of the current year. He is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow in Marketing and Public Policy at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, with a wealth of experience in the field of limiting ads for tobacco and cannabis.

He shared his astonishment at the substantial amount of sports betting ads seen everywhere when he attended his son’s tournament. As the advocacy group stated, the sports facility was predominantly used by children, rendering it a completely inappropriate venue for gambling advertisements.

Following the review of the ads, the gambling regulator explained a possible breach of Policy 2.03 of the Registrar’s Standards for iGaming was in place. As the policy dictates, advertising should not be targeted at “high-risk, underage or self-excluded persons.”

Raymond Kahnert, spokesperson for the AGCO commented on the case, also highlighting the inaptness of the ads: “There is a requirement that iGaming ads shall not appear in media or venues where most of the audience is reasonably expected to be minors – such as local arenas.”

The spokesperson further confirmed that the gambling authority had subsequently contacted the sports betting operators and the ads had been removed.

Ban Ads for Gambling Founder Hopes the Case Will Set a Precedent

Bruce Kidd, founder of Ban Ads for Gambling, shared his hopes that the case in Oakville will set a precedent and establish all Ontario sports arenas used by children and adolescents as restricted for gambling companies.

While the AGCO does monitor such violations, the sheer size of the province may be the cause of some omissions, and, therefore, the regulator relies on complaints flagged by the public.

The Ban Ads for Gambling founder shared his disappointment in the commission not making a public announcement regarding this violation: “We are interested in all betting companies and arena operators knowing that this shouldn’t happen and acting on this precedent.”

As CasinoGamesPro reported, as of February 28, 2024, an official ban on sports personalities and celebrities from appearing in online advertisements is in place in Ontario.

The Campaign to Ban Advertising for Gambling is an outspoken proponent of a nationwide ban on gambling ads, insisting upon “the same kinds of controls on advertising for gambling that is in place for tobacco and cannabis.”