Get ready, Ontario—iGaming ads are getting a radical makeover thanks to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) 🎮🛑. Athletes and celebrities are out of the advertising game, effective February 2024, as AGCO cranks up the gambling safeguards to protect minors. 🚫🔐
Changing the Game: Starting February 2024, the iGaming arena in Ontario will wave goodbye to athlete-studded ads, all thanks to AGCO’s new rules. The name of the game? Tightening up gambling safety measures. These updates will put a full-stop on ads featuring athletes and celebs who have a magnetic pull on the younger crowd. ⛔👶
Public Buzz and Consultations: These rule-shakers weren’t dropped out of the blue. AGCO played it smart with a public consultation and proposed the changes back in April. The aim? Shielding the youth from influences that hit closer to home—those star athletes and celebs! 🗣️🤳🌐
Tom Mungham, AGCO’s Game-Changer: Tom Mungham, AGCO’s head honcho, spilled the tea: “Kids and teens take a page from the playbook of their favorite athletes and celebs. So, we’re beefing up our measures to safeguard Ontario’s youth. That means no more using these powerhouses to amp up online betting in Ontario.” ☕👦👧
Rulebook Revamp: Here’s the scoop—licensed operators better forget about enlisting athletes, whether they’re in the game or chilling in retirement, for online gambling ads. There’s a teeny-tiny exception though—these sports champs can only make a cameo for responsible gambling awareness. 📜🎬
Lights Out for Celeb Cameos: It’s not just the athletes; celebs, role models, social media influencers, entertainers, and even those cool cartoon figures and symbols that scream “kiddo” are getting the boot. AGCO ain’t playing—it’s all about nipping that “appeal to minors” thing in the bud. 🚫🎤🎈
New Twists on Familiar Terms: AGCO’s got some fresh words in the mix. Instead of “primary appeal to minors,” they’re putting it straight—ads that “would likely be expected to appeal to minors” are banned. A modern spin that’s all about keeping the young guns safe. 🔄👦🚫
So, as the gaming world gets a rulebook refresh, Ontario’s stepping up to the plate with AGCO, making sure the game stays fun, fair, and definitely for the grown-ups. 🎲🏀🌟
#AGCORules #YouthGuardians #GameSafe
