Lithuanian Parliament Approves Gambling Ads Ban
Lithuania is poised to implement a comprehensive ban on gambling advertisements.
Gambling ads will be banned in Lithuania starting from July 2025.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Lithuanian parliament has approved legislation restricting gambling promotions, with implementation slated for July 2025. The proposed amendments to the gaming law were passed with 73 votes and one abstention.
With this development, gambling advertising will be banned in the jurisdiction starting in July next year. However, there will be exceptions for sports-related activities, including competitions, events, sponsorships, and broadcasts, which will have a transitional period until January 1, 2028.
MPs have also approved a transitional period until December 31, 2027, proposed by the Budget and Finance Committee. This will permit up to three sports betting ads, each under 15 seconds, per hour on TV, radio, and online between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and up to two ads per hour from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Betting ads without direct links to operators' websites will occupy 20% of online advertising space between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., decreasing to 10% from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The country's 2025 budget has allocated an additional €4 million to the Media Support Fund to compensate media outlets for inevitable revenue losses that will be incurred from the gambling advertisements ban.
Thanks to the Government, we have found a way to compensate for certain losses during the transition period. The budget for the coming year includes EUR 4 million for a media fund, which will be used for this purpose. And with that aim in mind, funding has been increased for other areas of the sector, such as broadcasting, cultural, sporting events.
More Regulation News
The regulation of gambling advertising has become a pressing concern internationally. For instance, the All-Party Group (APG) in Northern Ireland recently submitted a proposal seeking a complete overhaul in the way gambling services are advertised in the jurisdiction.
Also, Australian experts are urging government reforms to restrict targeted advertising to vulnerable groups, citing research that shows alcohol and gambling companies target at-risk individuals via Facebook ads.
RELATED TOPICS: Regulation
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