GB regulator warns operators over illegal advertising
Operators in dialogue with police over adverts appearing on websites which break copyright laws
Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has warned operators to take “immediate action” to ensure adverts placed by themselves or their affiliates do not appear on illegal websites as part of a City of London Police crackdown on copyright infringement.
And eGaming Review has learnt the Commission has brokered dialogue between the police and several major but unnamed operators as part of the operation.
“We can’t talk in detail about ongoing operations but we are aware that adverts for mainstream, licensed gambling operators are appearing on these sites,” a Commission spokesperson told eGR.
“We have advised personal management licence holders responsible for marketing that they should take immediate action to ensure that digital adverts placed by themselves, or their affiliates, do not appear on illegal websites,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier this year the Commission teamed up with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) for Operation Creative, which was aimed at reducing the advertising revenue of sites providing access to pirated films, music and books.
Since then the PIPCU has seen a 36% decrease in gambling adverts on copyright infringing websites, and while the Commission said it was pleased with the initial impact, it admitted there was “clearly more to be done”.
A report by the Digital Citizens Alliance estimated that in 2013 piracy websites generated £145m from advertising, with the City of London Police saying the appearance of adverts from established brands on illegal websites lend such sites “a look of legitimacy”.
Last month the Commission said advertising on legal websites by unlicensed operators had not become a major issue since regulation due to arrangements with major advertisers and platforms including Google and Facebook.