Australia

SBS to Let Streaming Viewers Block Gambling, Alcohol and Fast-food Ads

Published

6 months ago

November 2, 2023

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Hybrid public broadcaster SBS is introducing controls for viewers to avoid gambling, alcohol and fast-food ads on its digital streaming platform SBS On Demand as part of its responsible advertising practices.

The initiative, announced at the broadcaster’s Upfront event in Sydney on Tuesday, will be introduced in the first quarter of 2024.

Managing director James Taylor said the move was unrelated to incoming legislation on wagering ads.

“Audiences have complete control over the content they choose to watch on streaming platforms, and we’d like to give audiences a degree of control over the ads they see as well,” said Taylor.

The three advertising categories were logical choices and the ones people tended to have the strongest views on, he said.

The “solid start” was another step in increasing personalisation of services, and a demonstration of the broadcaster’s responsible advertising practices, Taylor said.

“We are providing audience members the opportunity to tell us that they don’t want to see ads in one of these categories, and I think that’s a really positive demonstration of our commitment to audiences,” he said.

“We’re not judging the products, as evidenced by the fact that we have launch partners in those categories. What we’re saying is that our commercial clients have an incentive not to advertise to people who have expressed a view about their products.”

Drinks giant Endeavour Group and wagering firm Tabcorp have backed the change.

Tabcorp’s general manager of marketing and media, Vanessa Sanford, called it an innovative initiative “that ensures advertising reaches a receptive audience”.

Jo Rose, Endeavour’s chief marketing officer, said the group was committed to “maintaining a culture of industry leadership in the responsible service, ranging, sale and marketing of alcohol”.

Unlike national broadcaster ABC, SBS derives significant revenue through commercial avenues, alongside government funding. Its recent annual report showed $173 million was raised from advertising, sponsorship and client service activities in the 2022-23 financial year, a 12.7% rise on the previous year.

Australia

Nerida O’Loughlin Reappointed as ACMA Chair

Published

7 days ago

April 29, 2024

Niji Narayan

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The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Rtd), has accepted the Albanese Government’s recommendation that Ms Nerida O’Loughlin PSM be reappointed as Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Ms O’Loughlin has been reappointed for a three-year term, commencing on 14 October 2024, having first been appointed in 2017 and reappointed in 2022.

The Chair has extensive executive and regulatory experience, and is well respected across the sector. Her reappointment provides continuity as the ACMA works to deliver important outcomes for consumers and industry in the communications and media sectors, and implement reforms being undertaken by Government.

In her current term, Ms O’Loughlin has led the ACMA’s work to strengthen telecommunications consumer safeguards, particularly for vulnerable Australians, overseen the establishment of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register and Australia’s first SMS ID Registry – and taken strong enforcement of anti-scam and illegal gambling rules.

Ms O’Loughlin has also led important work on media diversity, misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms, and supported improved digital connectivity through the allocation of valuable radiocommunications spectrum.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“I congratulate Ms Nerida O’Loughlin PSM on her reappointment as Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

“Since her appointment in 2017, Ms O’Loughlin has led the ACMA to deliver important reforms and regulatory activities in the communications and media industries.

“This includes better supporting consumers facing financial hardship pressures in paying their telecommunications bills, mitigating consumer harms in gambling advertising, enforcing anti-scam rules and taking enforcement action against corporations for non-compliance with Australia’s spam unsubscribe rules.

“The Chair’s continuity will provide the Authority ongoing certainty as the Albanese Government continues its important media and digital platforms reform agenda.

“I look forward to continue working with Ms O’Loughlin as the ACMA Chair.”

The post Nerida O’Loughlin Reappointed as ACMA Chair appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

Crown Reinstated at Sydney Casino

Published

2 weeks ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The NSW Independent Casino Commission has found Crown Sydney suitable to retain its casino licence after nearly three years of intensive remediation.

Chief Commissioner, Philip Crawford, said Crown has come a long way and must now demonstrate its long-term commitment to maintaining suitability.

“The NICC is confident the Crown we deemed suitable today has a strong model to keep operating into the future,” Mr Crawford said.

The NICC’s suitability assessment established that Crown Sydney has fundamentally reformed its business and is operating the casino within the objects of the Act, the requirements of the suitability deed, and in compliance with its regulatory obligations.

In addition to proving it can run the casino lawfully, Crown has remediated its business in other meaningful ways such as building a culture of transparency and accountability across its integrated resort.

“Hard work and transformation aside, the NICC has not forgotten the level of misconduct exposed in 2021 when Crown was found unsuitable,” said Mr Crawford.

“Crown Sydney has ongoing work to reach steady state and it must continue to lift standards and maintain its cultural transformation.

“There is and will always be room for improvement, but Crown is a changed business that is looking toward the future.

“Likewise, the NICC is a changed regulator with enhanced powers, a singular focus on casinos, and a mandate to address the risks of harm.

“This decision is a positive outcome for Crown Sydney, its staff, and the community – who can be sure the NICC will use all of its powers to keep the casino in check.”

In addition to the implementation of hundreds of new internal controls, the Bergin-based reforms have been reflected in a new licence and new regulatory agreement between Crown Sydney, the NSW Government and the NICC.

These agreements include updated settings, such as the removal of fetters to the NICC’s powers, as well as previous compensation trigger clauses that are no longer part of the casino legislation.

Mr Crawford said: “Crown cannot disregard the responsibility and privilege that comes with holding a casino licence. Crown Sydney’s ability to provide a destination hospitality and entertainment venue underpinned by the restricted gaming facility is contingent on its steadfast commitment to continuing suitability, accountability and compliance.”

The post Crown Reinstated at Sydney Casino appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

Tabcorp Partners with OpenBet’s Sportsbook Technology to Propel Growth and Enhance User Experience

Published

2 weeks ago

April 24, 2024

Alan Campbell

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

OpenBet’s robust betting engine and sophisticated trading system to enhance Australian operator’s user experience and operational efficiencies

OpenBet, a leading content, platform and service provider to the sports betting industry, has been selected to supply its scalable betting engine and advanced trading system to Australian wagering giant Tabcorp as the tier-one operator pursues ambitious growth plans.

OpenBet will integrate a series of online and retail products including its fixed-odds betting platform and trading system for its world-class content portfolio to help amplify the offering for Tabcorp’s flagship brand, TAB.

Underpinned by a dedicated excellence team working with TAB for continuous development and innovation, OpenBet’s pioneering technology and services will provide improved agility, scalability and speed-to-market for new and differentiated products that will redefine the TAB user experience. Tabcorp will also benefit from enhanced operational efficiency and streamlined processes through OpenBet’s proven solutions.

As Australia’s largest gaming and betting operator, Tabcorp has a rich history of providing market-leading products to its customers. With more than 3,000 employees, the company continues to grow and aims to further increase its market share over the coming years.

OpenBet’s expertise in operating within some of the world’s strictest regulated markets was a major factor in Tabcorp’s decision in selecting the company as its latest technology provider. Integrating OpenBet’s globally respected platform and products within Tabcorp’s technology ecosystem comprising of proprietary capabilities across trading, digital experience and data is a perfect fit for market leading innovation, enhanced operational capability and delivering an unparalleled user experience to Tabcorp’s customers.

This deal strengthens OpenBet’s reputation as a trusted provider to the global sports betting industry. It currently processes almost half of all digital sports bets placed in the Australian market and with this deal will significantly increase that and, for the first time, bring our retail sports betting capability to Australia. Coupled with Tabcorp’s clear progress on accelerating its transformation and innovation with a focus on agility, product delivery and customer experience, this has the ingredients for a great partnership.

“Being selected by Tabcorp to augment its user experience is an exciting move for us and further cements our position as a trusted provider of robust, hybrid products that drive growth,” the Chief Commercial Officer for OpenBet, Cathryn Lai, said. “We’re looking forward to working alongside the TAB team and providing it with tailored products and services that will usher in a new era for its sportsbook offering. We have no doubt that the operator’s customer base will benefit from an enhanced experience through our unbeatable technology and trading services.”

“We’re thrilled to be strategically partnering with OpenBet to enable our growth ambitions and beyond,” the Trading General Manager for Tabcorp, David Beirne, said. “The combined strengths of Tabcorp’s category expertise and internal capabilities and OpenBet’s advanced core creates a market leading relationship that will lead to increased customer engagement, market share and sustainable profitability.

“This partnership will propel Tabcorp’s trading capabilities to the top of the market as it will allow Tabcorp to utilise OpenBet’s cutting-edge technology to deliver a first-class digital and retail experience for our customers at pace in exciting and innovative ways.

“This partnership is a significant step forward in modernising and supporting our ambitious plans to deliver the next generation sports betting user journey.”

The post Tabcorp Partners with OpenBet’s Sportsbook Technology to Propel Growth and Enhance User Experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.