Facebook's opt-out option for betting ads praised by UK's BGC

The Betting and Gaming Council on Thursday welcomed the introduction of Facebook’s opt-out option for the vast majority of betting adverts on their platform. Through this tool, Facebook users who no longer want to view these ads will be able to block them.

The BGC has been working closely with Facebook over the past year, and stated that they hope to “come up with even more new tools in the future for those who want to see fewer betting ads”. 

This move is in addition to the updated Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, which was released in 2020. Under this code, BGC members must ensure that all social media ads are targeted at consumers aged 25 and over.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher spoke about this new tool and said: “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”

“The regulated betting and gaming industry 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”, he concluded.