Slovakia set to update advertising regulations
New regulations set to make sweeping changes across all verticals of gambling advertising
The Office of Gambling Regulation of Slovakia has released a ‘Concept of Responsible Advertising’ document to help improve standards in the country.
The document outlines what the government deems acceptable advertising standards relating to gambling advertising to Slovakian players.
The new regulations cover advertising standards across all types of media, including TV, radio and the internet, as well as outdoor advertising on billboards and inside sports venues.
The regulator has said that advertising needs to be regulated in the country, as unregulated advertising can also attract vulnerable groups or minors to gambling.
Director general of the Office, David Lenčéš, said: “It is socially desirable that Slovak gambling advertising has clear standards and responsible content. That is why we are coming up with the Concept of Responsible Advertising.
“It is mainly about the intensity, focus and content of advertising. It will ultimately help us to deal with the ethics of advertising in relation to vulnerable groups and children, in particular, because of the need to use consumer-friendly information about operators’ products and services in advertising,” Lenčéš added.
In 2019, the Slovak Gambling Act was amended to include the European Commission’s rules on market competition, which meant that online casino and poker was taken away from the state-owned operator TIPOs.
Following this change, the Office of Gambling Regulation was established, which issues licences to operators and regulates the Slovakian market.
To gain a licence in Slovakia, an operator needs to have its registered office either in the Slovak Republic or have its premises in another EU Member State. If the offices are based in another EU country, it will only be granted a licence if it has registered foreign representation in Slovakia.
All of these moves are a part of the Slovakian government’s objective of creating a safe environment for players, avoiding gambling harm as much as possible and preventing any criminal activity.
The regulator has said that it welcomes comments and recommendations from industry representatives, operators and third-party entities.