Impact revision of the Gambling Act. In the last regular session of the 49th National Assembly, the deputies unanimously adopted the first reading the ban on gambling advertisements in the mediatransmits NOVA.
The request is for the texts to be finally approved on Tuesday at an extraordinary meeting, despite the holiday due to the elections. The Association of Bulgarian Radio and Television Operators came out with sharp position and suggested emergency calls.
At first reading, the parliament adopted a full ban on the advertising of gambling games in radio, television, print and electronic publicationsas well as on public places and building facades. Advertising will be allowed only on billboards located at a distance of not less than 100 meters from schools or on various specialized halls. Although the texts were approved unanimously, criticism was also heard in the hall.
“Elections are coming. This driving dynamics in problem gambling will make not clubs, now those who fill the cash registers in gambling, will break the phones of certain people to look for them”, commented Rumen Gechev from the BSP.
“Elections are the most lied about”, concluded Grozdan Karadjov from ITN.
Parliamentary groups also made requests for changes between the two readings.
ABRO: Advertisements ensure the financial sustainability and independence of the media
“For the second reading, we will argue whether the restrictions on advertising are sufficient or not. Most of the blunders that have occurred in the regulation of this activity have occurred from the fact that we all have good intentions, we do not understand this matter well, we make certain proposals, we impose them populistically in the hall, because we all have good intentions and accept them. And then we look around for the result. Something like “give, give back” and “now come down and see what you’ve done”. Those who brought it in only bring negatives”, stressed Yordan Tsonev from DPS.
GERB does not comment on the subject.
From The Association of Bulgarian Radio and Television Operators announced that such significant changes should not be made immediately before the election campaign and in the last working days of the parliament.
“We insist on dialogue and coordination in the adoption of texts that have a significant impact on the media, the entire industry as well as sports. We call on the people’s representatives to organize an immediate discussion with representatives of the gambling industry and the media”, commented ABRO.
The branch also offers specific options for regulation, such as airing a TV ad in a specific time zone. The Association adds that: “advertising is a major source of income for the media and an important communication channel to viewers. Therefore, its restriction should be approached very carefully and responsibly, and the possible ban will lead to the spread of the gray sector. By comparison, in Italy after the ban black market bets are estimated at 25 billion euros per year”.
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