The UK Gambling Commission has partnered with social media giant Facebook, to cut the number of gambling adverts shown on the platform. 

According to the UKGC, the partnership will focus on creating guidance to reduce the amount of messages and advertisements linked to gambling seen on the platform. It will include advising users how they can manage their preferences and data to prevent them from seeing gambling related content. 

The partnership follows the UKGC’s challenge, set in April, to use technology to cut the amount of online advertising seen by children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 

Commenting on the collaboration UKGC CEO, Neil McArthur, said:

“Protecting children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling is at the heart of what we do, which is why I challenged the industry to look at how they can make better use of technology to prevent gambling-related content and adverts being seen by those individuals.

“Partnering with Facebook to produce this guidance is a welcome step for us in order to offer consumers clear, practical advice, and I hope that this will help them limit the gambling-related content they see when using the platform.”

While VP of Global Gaming at Facebook, Rick Kelley, added:

“Facebook is committed to supporting a safe and transparent environment for people to control their experiences on our platform. We’re delighted that our partnership with the Gambling Commission will help operators to implement advertising campaigns responsibly, while helping to protect the people who use our services.”

AYO.NEWS says:

While this collaboration seems reasonable, let’s hope the partnership stays as planned, and doesn’t evolve into something resembling Facebook’s usual heavy handed and clumsy censorship. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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