UKGC Partners With Twitter For Social Media Gambling Guidance
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced a partnership with Twitter.
The gambling regulator revealed this week that it had struck a partnership with Twitter to provide its users guidance to limit the amount of gambling-related content seen across the social media platform. The Commission’s guide explains how some of Twitter’s tools and settings can help players regulate the content they want to see.
According to the UK Gambling Commission’s official announcement, the publication will explain how users can manage their interests and keywords, turn off notifications from accounts and use the mute feature to decrease their exposure to gambling-related content, including advertisements.
The move comes after Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur voiced concerns over children’s exposure to gambling-related content on social platforms. He said: “Advertising spend has surged over recent years with young people and vulnerable adults being exposed to significant levels of online gambling adverts and via social media.
“This level of exposure is a concern and I have challenged the industry to quickly accelerate opportunities to reduce the amount of advertising seen by young people, children and vulnerable adults across all digital platforms. Whilst we work on a plan which sets out new standards for how the industry will embrace advertising technology, I hope that this guidance will play a role in helping consumers to limit the gambling-related content they see on Twitter.”
What They Say
Katy Marshall, the Head of UK Public Policy at Twitter, added: “Improving the health of the public conversation is our overall mission as is ensuring those on the service feel safe and supported. With that in mind, we’re continuing to enforce our policies, specifically around prohibited and restricted ad content as well as assessing the eligibility of ads on our service – these policies apply to all advertisers and advertisements on Twitter.
“We also continue to work with industry partners on tools to support their responsible gambling advertising priorities. We’re happy to partner with the Gambling Commission in providing those on Twitter with information on the tools and controls they can use to manage their experience.”
The UK Gambling Commission’s Twitter guidance is available as a PDF now. The UK Gambling Commission has plans to release similar guidance for other social media platforms in the future but the firm hasn’t yet revealed which platforms they will be working with.
The news comes weeks after the regulator announced a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling, both at brick-and-mortar casinos and betting shops and at online casinos and bookmakers. The Commission’s new rules were announced after a 12-week-long consultation on the payment method and its ties to gambling and after the UK government reviewed how the gambling industry can contribute to the nation’s economy.