A gaming firm, Betway, received a penalty of almost $500,000 for promotional content displayed on the youth sections of the West Ham United Football Club’s online platform.
The UK’s regulatory body for gambling discovered Betway’s emblem and hyperlinks on webpages designed for young supporters, which included elements like teddy bear illustrations intended for coloring activities. This continued for more than 18 months and even encompassed a segment titled “Young Hammers at Home.”
This is a significant matter due to stringent regulations regarding the separation of gambling promotions from minors.
Leanne Oxley, a representative from the Gambling Commission, emphasized that safeguarding children is of utmost importance. Although it appears that Betway did not intend to directly target them, violating the regulations is not permissible.
This situation serves as a cautionary tale for all gambling enterprises to meticulously review their advertisements and guarantee that they are not accessible to children.
Theres uncertainty surrounding potential sanctions against West Ham United for purportedly featuring gambling advertisements on their official website. The club and betting company Betway are facing criticism for allegedly permitting gambling promotions to be visible to underage individuals on the club’s platform.
In response to industry apprehensions, Betway released a statement underscoring their dedication to responsible gaming, asserting a zero-tolerance approach towards any marketing targeting those below 18 years of age. They emphasized their proactive measures in eliminating branding from youth merchandise and stressed the significance they place on ethical advertising practices.
Betway attributed the occurrence to a technological malfunction that resulted in their logo appearing on a limited-access area of West Ham’s website. They guaranteed that prompt steps were taken to remove it upon detection. Nevertheless, they acknowledged responsibility and pledged to collaborate closely with the club to avert similar situations moving forward.