Ohio Regulator Issues Warning vs. Advertising Practices of Sportsbooks

Ohio Regulator Issues Warning vs. Advertising Practices of Sportsbooks

Ohio Casino Conrtol Commission

The state of Ohio is very near to launching its business for betting on sporting events. 

Coinciding with the historic event, the Ohio Casino Control Commission warns sportsbook operators about their advertising practices.

Following the elimination of the last remaining obstacles, the state is getting ready to take bets from individuals at least 21 years old on January 1, 2023.

Nevertheless, in the time leading up to the official launch, there have been a few things that could be improved with the manner in which excited stakeholders have been pushing their items.

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The Advertising Practices of Sportsbooks Under Monitor

The Ohio Casino Control Commission issued a statement not too long ago stating that it expected all sportsbooks to uphold the highest industry standards and make certain that they complied with the requirements stipulated in their licenses. 

The watchdog has stated that it will take enforcement action against any previous violators, but the firm has stated that it will not aim to “control” adverts.

Instead, sportsbooks need to clean up their act and argue that legalized enterprises in the state have not followed the restrictions that have been put in place. 

The Commission stated that there were consistent patterns of flouting gaming regulation regulations, which led them to conclude that this was not an isolated instance of lawbreaking.

Producing Advertising and Any Materials for Immediately Assessment

The regulator has stated that it will take action in instances where the laws have been infringed, but it will make an effort to control how the industry advertises its products. 

For the benefit of operators, it does not appear that this will be one of those instances. Despite this, the Commission strongly suggested that all parties “immediately assess” both their current advertising procedures and any previous materials they may have produced.

From this point on, any and all reviews must be conducted in order to guarantee complete compliance with the various state laws that now govern sports betting. In a similar vein, the Commission emphasized the industry’s need to demonstrate “courtesy” and adhere to all regulatory guidelines.

Aims to Deliver Clear, Legible Advertising to its Customers 

The Commission stressed the importance of clearly displaying messages about responsible gambling and helplines for those struggling with gambling addiction, which was one of the themes they brought up again and again. 

The watchdog organization strongly recommended that sportsbooks make this messaging “clear, legible, and audible” to customers. The Commission voiced its disapproval of the initial gambling messages that were distributed by the state’s authorities, stating that the messages did not adhere to the specified level of responsibility guidelines.

It should not be necessary for a person to magnify or slow down an advertisement, or turn up the level in order to read or hear a helpline number that is included in the commercial.

The Regulatory Body Outlines the Messages 

The Commission stated that the responsible gambling slogan should not be written in the smallest type possible, spoken as quickly as possible, or spoken in the lowest possible voice. Even though Ohio has not taken any kind of regulatory action with regard to this specific occurrence, this does not mean that there has never been any kind of regulatory action in the state’s history.

In point of fact, the regulatory body had a problem with Penn Entertainment and its sportsbook, which is known as Barstool Sportsbook, for violating advertisement guidelines in the norm. PlayUp Interactive, another promising brand, was denied entry into the state that is haunted by its history. The regulator argued that the company had been accepting illegal bets in the United States without the proper license, so PlayUp Interactive was not allowed to enter the state.

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About Lou De Aguila

Lou Aguila is a news and feature writer for Golden Casino News. For over a decade, Lou has published news and featured articles for some of the most reputable sports betting and online casino sites in the world, including BetNow.UK, VegasOdds, and BWin. Apart from being a hardcore live casino punter, he also covers sports stories in North American leagues from time to time.