The regulator in charge of advertising across the United Kingdom, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), challenged whether an advertisement of Betfred that aired back in April was directed toward individuals under the age of 18. The advertisement in question was streamed during the PrestonPlayz program, popular for its content including games such as Minecraft, on the over-the-top streaming service, The Roku Channel on April 17, 2023.

In its advertisement, Betfred promoted its Live Betfred Casino with a voice-over saying: “Welcome to Betfred Casino. Here you can play a range of slot and table games or take a seat in our live casino.” Considering the platform that was used for the advertisement, the ASA challenged whether the ad was directed at audiences under the age of 18.

The scrutiny of gambling advertisements comes at a time when the ASA ramped up its rules for such ads last year. The Authority’s ultimate goal was to decrease the possibility of underage individuals viewing gambling advertisements. Effectively, gambling operators in the UK are required to comply with those regulations, ensuring that the advertisements for their products do not appeal or reach underage audiences.

In the recent case, Betfred responded that it took proactive steps to ensure that its advertisement complies with the existing regulations. Upon sourcing an agency to air the ad in question, the operator specifically requested for the target audiences to be above the age of 18, underlining its commitment to advertise only with adult audiences.

Betfred said that as a streaming service, Roku requires its users to confirm they are above the age of 18 when registering. Moreover, the operator said that the TV agency received those instructions and disclosed them to Roku at the start of the advertising campaign.

The Advertisement Breached Cap Code Rules

According to Betfred, considering Roku’s requirement for users to be at least 18 to register, anyone who shared an adult’s account or misrepresented their age breached the platform’s terms of use. Despite the actions taken by the operator, the ASA assessed that the ad breached the CAP Code rules.

Upholding its decision against Petfre Ltd t/a Totesport, Betfred, the advertising gambling regulator concluded that the advertisement breached CAP Code rules 1.3, related to social responsibility, 16.1 and 16.3.13, related to gambling. As a result, the ASA said the advertisement must not appear again without specific controls that seek to reduce the likelihood of people under the age of 18 being exposed. Additionally, the regulator asked the operator not to use media with a “disproportionately large audience of under-18s.”

Recently, another ad by Betfred was under fire by the ASA. The advertisement in question was released via X ahead of upcoming fights for Anthony Joshua.

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The leading global betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, Entain, announced that it has set aside some £585 million ($747 million) regarding its ongoing deterred prosecution agreement (DPA) negotiations with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over an investigation by the HMRC for one of its former Turkish-facing businesses. The business, which was under the name of GVC Holdings, before it was sold by Entain in 2017, was probed over alleged breaches of Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010.

In light of the investigation by the HMRC, previously, Entain confirmed that it entered into DPA negotiations with the CPS to resolve the years-long issue. After a few years into the issue, the company confirmed that it may be able to resolve the HMRC investigation.

The terms of the DPA remain subject to approval from a judge but Entain believes that setting aside £585 million ($747 million) as a potential settlement may resolve the issue. The aforementioned sum, if such resolution is approved, would be paid by the company over a period of four years. Although the provision of the hefty sum was announced Thursday, Entain said that it may seek judicial approval at some point in Q4 2023.

“While the full terms of a DPA are subject to judicial approval, the Company has a sufficient degree of confidence to take a provision of £585 million against a potential settlement, which would be paid over a four-year period in relation to alleged offences under Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010,“

explains a statement released by Entain

The Company Updated Its Bribery Policies

Barry Gibson, Entain’s chairman, said that the company is delighted to see progress on the years-long issue, involving a business that was sold nearly six years ago. He explained: “We have been working closely with the CPS throughout this process, and they have recognized our extensive cooperation.” Last but not least, Gibson noted that Entain improved its strategy, business model and culture in the last few years.

“Following a complete overhaul of our business model, strategy and culture in the last few years, the Entain of today bears no resemblance to the GVC of yesterday.“

Barry Gibson, chairman at Entain

Since the launch of the HMRC probe, Entain has gone through an extensive review and update of its anti-bribery policies and procedures. Ultimately, the company sought to update and improve its policies, complementing and strengthening its compliance with different markets around the globe.

With the latest update, Entain hopes to resolve timely the matter. Currently, the company holds licenses in more than 40 jurisdictions and is recognized as a leading betting, gaming and entertainment company around the world.

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Public opinion in Osaka, Japan is on the rise in support of an integrated casino resort in the prefecture according to an exit poll conducted over the weekend by the local news outlet, Mainichi Shimbun. The survey was taken by Japan’s oldest newspaper over the weekend as the Osaka Mayoral Election was held as part of the 20th Unified Local Elections in the country.

Plans call for Japan’s first casino to be built as part of a large integrated resort (IR) on Yumeshima island – a man-made land mass that is part of Konohana-ku, one of the 24 wards of Osaka, Japan.

According to the trusted outlet, the survey queried 6,190 voters as they left 145 polling places. A majority, 53% said they supported the IR development while 45% said they were opposed to it.

Osakans Want the Integrated Resort Casino

Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura was not shy about his support for the development and the issue was seen by many as a key element of his potential re-election which he handily won with more support for a second term than he garnered when he won the governorship the first time. He assumed office in April 2019.

According to a report on Inside Asia Gaming’s website, only a third of those who voted to re-elect the governor were opposed to the development.

Hirofumi Yoshimura was endorsed by Osaka Ishin no Kai (Japan Reformation Association). He is the Deputy Leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai. Osaka (city) is the capital and most populated city in the Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan with a population of 2.7 million.

Also endorsed by Osaka Ishin no Kai was political upstart Hideyuki Yosokawa who was elected mayor of the city. His victory was more robust than that of the governor however with a record 2.44 million votes – the most ever cast for a mayoral candidate in Osaka. His margin of victory was about two-million votes over his closest competitor.

The party also won 55 seats on the city council and retained its majority.

Governor Yoshimura was supported by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party as well. He had stated earlier that he may resign as a representative if a majority was not maintained.

Hard Work Ahead for Next Four Years

Speaking to constituents after the election Yoshimura said, “I believe that we have received a certain amount of public support to promote the IR attraction. I want to work hard for the next four years with the strong desire to make Osaka grow.”

The prefecture and city tendered an application to the central government in early 2022. Partnering in the endeavor are MGM Resorts and the Japanese multinational ORIX Corporation, a publicly owned Tokyo-based international financial services company established in 1964. ORIX is listed on the Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges.

When Japanese lawmakers finally passed legislation that was signed by the late Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, it was hoped by many that at least one IR would be approved and operating before the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics opened. However, deep-seated religious and secular political opposition to gambling remained and the fight was taken to a local level where anti-casino voices, mixed with complicated cultural and political machinations won out and drove most casino operators away from the fight.

Current projections, reportedly affirmed by the Governor, project an IR opening in 2029. Investment costs have been estimated to be as high as $10 billion to complete the project.

Out of a large field of deep pockets and top-tier global casino operators that initially vied for approval, MGM’s Osaka bid is seen by many as the last hope to build not only a world-class casino resort in Japan but the country’s only casino.

Various numbers have been tossed about since long before the Diet and Cabinet codified gambling liberalization in Japan. The latest projections indicate that the MGM/Orix consortium’s development could attract as many as 20 million visits each year and generate revenue approaching US$4 billion (JPY 520 billion).

Source: Exit poll shows majority support for Osaka IR as governor wins re-election, Inside Asian Gaming, April 11

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