A union of Conservative parties in Slovakia has called for a reset of the “Law of Advertising and Media Services” to include new protections for youth and vulnerable audiences.
The National Council of Slovakia has received an urgent proposal from the political parties Slovensko, For the People, and the Christian Union (KU) to close loopholes in Slovakian media that have allowed alcohol and gambling to be promoted with limited restrictions.
The Conservative parties are demanding that the government implement a ban on the broadcasting of television advertisements for gambling services and alcoholic beverages between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm.
The government has been urged to explain why no restrictions have been imposed on gambling and alcohol advertising, despite these products being restricted to individuals over the age of 18.
Currently, regulations on alcohol advertisements are considered inadequate and ambiguously worded, making them unclear for consumers.
For gambling, advertisements have no time restrictions, and Conservative parties argue that children are being exposed to gambling ads, which pose risks of impulsive behavior and potential addiction.
In 2019, the ‘Slovak Gambling Act’ was amended to comply with European Commission rules on market competition, resulting in online casino and poker games being removed from the monopoly of the state-owned operator TIPOs.
However, despite these changes to Slovakia’s gambling regime, no adjustments were made to advertising regulations, despite repeated pleas from the Office of Gambling Regulation.
The proposed watershed on gambling and alcohol advertisements is detailed as the first measure in the effort to reset Slovakia’s advertising and media laws, aimed at addressing loopholes and inconsistencies in the current legislation regarding the advertisement of adult products.
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