Facebook to give users the facility to opt out of betting ads

Facebook are to introduce an opt-out for the vast majority of betting adverts on their platform, news that has been welcomed by The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). The BGC reported they have been working closely with Facebook over the past 12 months and they hope to provide more tools to facilitate those who wish to see fewer betting ads going forward. The move comes on the back of last year’s updated Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising which ensured that all social media ads of BGC members must be targeted towards consumers aged 25 or over unless the website proves they can be accurately targeted at over 18s. Under the Industry Code a minimum of 20% of members’ TV and Radio Ads are safer gambling messages. BGC chief executive Michael Dugher: “This is yet more evidence of our commitment to raising standards in the regulated industry. “I welcome this move by Facebook and I would urge all social media and search platforms to provide the ability for users to opt out of viewing betting adverts. He continued: “The regulated betting and gaming market is determined to promote safer gambling, unlike the unsafe and growing online black market, which has none of the safeguards which are commonplace among BGC members.”