During the second reading of a parliamentary bill to amend the Act on the Protection of Health from the Harmful Effects of Addictive Substances, an amendment was tabled in the Chamber of Deputies at the end of last week that could significantly affect advertising by lottery and betting companies.
MP Vladimír Balaš (STAN) submitted a proposal to the Chamber of Deputies that would significantly restrict gambling advertising in the Czech Republic. His amendment to the bill on the protection of health against addictive substances would ban gambling advertising in the media and in public places.
According to the proposal, any advertising of gambling or gambling operators would be banned in periodical and non-periodical press, leaflets, posters or other printed matter. At the same time, advertising would not be allowed in publicly accessible places, for example on billboards, illuminated panels, citylights or other advertising media.
The proposal also includes an amendment to the law on radio and TV broadcasting, which would restrict the broadcasting of gambling advertisements between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The only exception would be encrypted broadcasts available exclusively to adults.
An exception to the proposed ban would remain for gambling advertising in the establishments themselves and in sports sponsorship activities, such as on jerseys or in stadiums. However, Balaš proposes to completely ban gambling advertising from ordinary public spaces. This exception means that betting companies could maintain their presence in sport, but their advertising in ordinary public spaces outside the sporting context would be restricted. Names such as ‘Chance liga’ and advertising on boards during matches would therefore remain, but billboards in the streets would disappear.
According to the Czech Gambling Act (No. 186/2016 Coll.), gambling is defined as ‘a game, bet or lottery in which the bettor places a bet, the return of which is not guaranteed, and in which the outcome is determined wholly or partly by chance or unknown circumstances’. The typical characteristics of gambling are therefore a stake, the possibility of winning and an element of chance.
The proposal would mainly affect companies operating betting, online casinos, lotteries or technical games (e.g. slot machines). The largest players on the market that would be affected by the restrictions include companies such as Tipsport, Fortuna, Sazka, Synot Tip and Chance. These brands often use advertising in the media today. In terms of gross investment, this amounts to approximately two billion crowns per year (source: Nielsen, 2024). At the same time, they often sponsor sports teams, competitions or cultural events.
Restrictions on advertising energy drinks
The draft law also includes new rules for advertising energy drinks (i.e. drinks with a higher content of caffeine, taurine, guarana, etc.), both in terms of sales and promotion. Specifically, this would be done by introducing a paragraph into the law on advertising regulation, which contains the following prohibitions:
- Encouraging excessive consumption or ridiculing restraint in consumption.
- Targeting persons under the age of 16 – advertising must not depict such persons consuming the product or use elements and styles that appeal to them.
Creating the impression that consumption leads to success (social, sexual, psychological, etc.). - Claims of increased performance (e.g. that caffeine or taurine is a ‘positive feature’ of a drink).
- References to recommendations by scientists or well-known personalities that could encourage consumption.
- Both the advertiser and the distributor of the advertisement would be liable for any violation of the law.
The proposed amendment to the Advertising Regulation Act is part of a broader package that also bans the sale of energy drinks to persons under the age of 16 (some MPs are proposing an age limit of 18) and regulates their sale online and in vending machines.
Source: mediaguru.cz