Advertisements for sports betting on mobile devices should cease, according to the National Consumers League.
The National Consumers League (NCL) has raised concerns about the rising tide of sports betting advertisements, particularly those that promote gambling and offer incentives. The organisation supports several legislative efforts aimed at curbing these marketing tactics, including the SAFE Bet Act, the Regulating Addictive Notifications Act, and Assembly Bill A5207.
According to the NCL, sports betting platforms promote a form of gambling that carries serious risks. In a report, the NCL highlights the aggressive and addictive nature of push notifications from betting apps, which demand constant attention and promote addictive gambling behavior. The largest sports betting apps send a high volume of push notifications containing direct calls to bet and incentives such as bonus bets, many of which would be banned under the SAFE Bet Act.
The SAFE Bet Act, which the NCL endorses, seeks to limit such marketing tactics. It proposes to prohibit promotions like bonus bets, restrict the timing of notifications, and ban the use of artificial intelligence to generate personalized betting incentives. The Act also aims to curb aggressive sports betting marketing tactics.
The NCL's research shows that 91% of advertising notifications sent by betting apps occurred outside the hours allowed by the SAFE Bet Act, indicating current advertising practices would be largely illegal under this legislation. Half of the notifications analyzed promoted incentives like bonuses, bonus bets, or odds boosts, which would be largely banned under the proposed Act.
The Regulating Addictive Notifications Act, endorsed by the NCL in the New York State Senate, shares similar goals. It aims to curb the use of push notifications for addictive products, though detailed provisions were not outlined in the search results.
In New Jersey, the NCL is backing Assembly Bill A5207, which would prohibit internet-based sports betting advertisements, including those on mobile apps. The NCL is also calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the use of push notifications as a marketing tool, arguing that such practices may violate federal laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive business conduct.
The harms associated with gambling, such as higher rates of suicide, intimate partner violence, and financial distress like bankruptcy, are well-documented. By restricting or banning push notifications advertising sports betting, particularly those that aggressively solicit wagers or offer bonus incentives, these legislative efforts aim to reduce gambling-related harms.
In summary, the current regulatory trend is toward restricting or banning push notifications advertising sports betting to reduce gambling-related harms. The SAFE Bet Act and related laws like the Regulating Addictive Notifications Act and Assembly Bill A5207 represent legislative efforts supporting these restrictions, with backing from consumer advocacy groups and calls for FTC enforcement.
[1] National Consumers League. (2022). Sports Betting Advertisements: A Growing Concern for Consumer Protection. Retrieved from https://www.nclnet.org/reports/sports-betting-advertisements-a-growing-concern-for-consumer-protection/ [2] Federal Trade Commission. (n.d.). FTC Act, 15 USC §§ 45, 57a. Retrieved from https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/rules-regulations/rules/ftc-rule-unfair-or-deceptive-acts-or-practices [3] National Consumers League. (2022). NCL Calls for Ban on Use of Push Notifications for Promoting Sports Betting. Retrieved from https://www.nclnet.org/press-room/ncl-calls-for-ban-on-use-of-push-notifications-for-promoting-sports-betting/ [4] National Consumers League. (2022). NCL Endorses Regulating Addictive Notifications Act in New York State Senate. Retrieved from https://www.nclnet.org/press-room/ncl-endorses-regulating-addictive-notifications-act-in-new-york-state-senate/ [5] National Consumers League. (2022). SAFE Bet Act Aims to Curb Aggressive Sports Betting Marketing Tactics. Retrieved from https://www.nclnet.org/press-room/safe-bet-act-aims-to-curb-aggressive-sports-betting-marketing-tactics/
- "The NCL believes that sports betting, with its aggressive and addictive marketing through push notifications from gambling apps, promotes a form of technology that could potentially lead to harmful consequences."
- "Despite the rising trend of sports betting advertisements, particularly those offering incentives like bonus bets, the NCL supports various legislative initiatives such as the SAFE Bet Act and Assembly Bill A5207, aiming to limit such marketing tactics."
- "In a bid to protect consumers from the potential harms of aggressive sports betting marketing, the NCL is advocating for stricter regulations on sports betting advertisements, particularly those using smartphones and gadgets for promotions."
