Norwegian media authority to tackle illegal gambling advertising
News on 5 Oct 2015
News on 5 Oct 2015
Norway’s media authority Medietilsynet has identified a “massive increase in illegal gambling advertising directed at Norway” prompting it to enter into dialogue with counterparts in the UK, Spain and the Netherlands.
According to two studies commissioned by the media authority from Nielsen Media Research in 2014 and 2015, illegal gambling advertising has increased from NOK 423 million (approx. Euro 45 million) in 2014 to NOK 609 million (approx. Euro 64.7 million) in 2015, a 44 percent increase in the last 10 months.
Nielsen’s research identifies UK-licensed TV3 as the biggest offender with illegal gambling advertising in Norway worth NOK 159 million (Euro 17 million) from 2014 to 2015.
In comparison advertising during that same period for Norwegian-licensed operators in total only reached NOK 9 million (Euro 957 000).
In light of the research, Medietilsynet has initiated a consultation procedure with the UK, Spain and the Netherlands through correspondence that identifies which channels are failing to comply with Norwegian regulations.
In the UK, the report identifies TV channels TV3, TV6, Viasat 4, FEM MAX, VOX, Discovery and TLC Norway.
According to Nielsen, within a 24 hour period, the number of gambling advertisements / sponsorships directed at Norwegian viewers from UK licensed channels was TV3 – 163, TV6 – 154, ViaSat4 – 157, FEM – 89, MAX – 203, VOX – 66, Discovery – 287 and TLC – 77.
In the Netherlands one channel is identified as the Netherlands Commissariat voor de Media-licensed Norwegian language channel MTV Norway.
Spain’s National Authority for Markets and Competition was issued with similar identifying TV channels National Geographic Channel Scandinavia and FOX Norway.
On receipt of the correspondence, those individual media authorities are requested to respond within two weeks, confirmed Tom Thoresen, director of Medietilsynet.
