Macau Moves to Ban Gambling Ads Totally
A potential ban on gambling advertisements is on the horizon in Macau, as the SAR government moves to prohibit all forms of these ads, including the display of gaming equipment in promotional materials.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:In a statement published on Friday, July 4, the country’s Economic and Technology Development Bureau (DSEDT) said that the existing advertising laws, which have been in existence for over 30 years, are outdated and in need of revision to keep pace with the rapid development of information technology and the changing economic landscape.
The government has published a consultation document to solicit public feedback on the proposed gambling ad ban. The document proposes to curb the negative social impact of gambling ads on society by clearly outlining and prohibiting specific types of content.
The document provides a comprehensive definition of “gambling-related advertising” as any content that displays gambling-related equipment, tools, or scenes, provides gambling techniques or odds information, or promotes gambling or activities that require gambling participation.
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Next Steps for Proposed Changes
Current Macau gambling laws already prohibit advertising games of chance and limit gaming concessionaires to promoting their services only within designated casino premises. However, the new proposal recommends an explicit ban on advertising all forms of gambling activities.
The amendments would also remove the need for advertisers to obtain pre-approval from the government before launching their ads. However, in cases of non-compliance, authorities would be empowered to take swift action, including taking down offending ads and penalizing violators.
With the bill currently in the consultation phase, the government is inviting public input on the proposed changes to the Advertising Activities Law through a 30-day consultation, which kicked off on July 4 and will run through August 2. During this period, the DSEDT plans to have five consultation sessions on the amendments, including three sessions for industry stakeholders and two public forums. The goal is to finalize the bill and submit it to the Legislative Assembly by December 2025.
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