The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued a formal warning to Network Ten after its streaming service, 10 Play, was found to have breached gambling advertising regulations during two live-streamed sports events on 14 October 2023.
The breach occurred during the A-League Women's match between Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets, and the Socceroos' friendly match against England.
According to the ACMA, 10 Play aired gambling advertisements outside the legally permitted times during these events. Australian regulations stipulate that online content providers must not display gambling ads during live sports broadcasts between 5:00am and 8:30pm, including the five minutes before and after the event.
The ACMA's investigation was prompted by a viewer's complaint and confirmed that the ads were shown during times when such promotions are prohibited. Network Ten attributed the breach to an error in its manual coding process and stated that it has since upgraded its systems to include more automated processes for scheduling advertisements.
This incident marks the first time Network Ten has violated the gambling advertisement rules during live sports broadcasts. The ACMA noted that Network Ten cooperated with the investigation but stressed the importance of compliance with these rules to minimise potential harm associated with gambling advertising.
ACMA has been actively involved in monitoring and regulating gambling-related content, including blocking illegal offshore gambling services and affiliate marketing sites that violate the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Since 2019, the ACMA has blocked over 1,026 illegal websites and continues to take action against entities that breach Australian regulations.
In addition to its enforcement activities, the ACMA has also engaged in consumer awareness campaigns, such as educating the public about the credit card ban on gambling services introduced by Responsible Wagering Australia. The Alliance for Gambling Reforms, an advocacy group, has been calling for further restrictions on gambling advertisements, particularly those targeting younger audiences.
