SPORTS BETTING
France – French Secretary of State for Youth airs concerns over sports betting ads
By Phil - 12 July 2021
The French Government has said it is worried about the effects of advertisements from sports betting sites on young people.
The Secretary of State for Youth, Sarah El Haïry, sent a letter on July 9 to the President of the National Games Authority (ANJ), Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, asking her to look into the strategies of communication of approved sports betting sites to young people. According to BFM.TV, which revealed this information, Ms. El Haïry mentions in particular the communication strategies of Winamax, Betclic and the Française des Jeux in directly targeting directly younger members of the public.
Ms El Haïry said: “These advertisements promote gambling by implying that it contributes to social success. They feature profiles that would emerge from situations of personal, professional, social or psychological difficulties thanks to the game. Some advertisements are even illegal because they do not respect the regulatory framework specific to gambling. Thus, she underlines that the operators cannot suggest that playing contributes to social success or that playing perhaps a solution in the face of difficulties.
“It would therefore seem necessary for our youth that the Authority that you chair can take up this subject and after investigation can consider sanctions against platforms that contravene these principles (warning, suspension of game exploitation or even pecuniary penalties if applicable), she added, saying ‘the situation is not acceptable.
