Serbia’s Zeleno-Left Front Demands Tougher Gambling Ads
Zeleno-Left Front (ZLF) has reiterated its demand for tougher gambling ads, saying the government’s proposed bill doesn’t go far enough. At a party-organised forum, members expressed concern over the impact of gambling promotions on vulnerable groups, especially children.
ZLF Slams Government’s Proposal
ZLF thinks the government’s proposal to amend the Law on Games of Chance doesn’t cover enough to protect at-risk groups. Marina Mijatović, ZLF MP, said flashy gambling ads draw attention to themselves and increase risks for people with gambling addiction and impressionable young audiences.
“Games of chance cannot be abolished, but all those advertisements do not need to be flashy and attract so much attention,” said Mijatović. She also reiterated that the ZLF has long been pushing for stricter advertising regulations, and the forum aimed to emphasize their stance to the government.
Sports Sponsorships in the Spotlight
ZLF member and MP Biljana Đorđević pointed out that gambling sponsors are everywhere in Serbian sports, saying that such partnerships create a bad environment for young sports enthusiasts. Đorđević cited Flutter’s subsidiary MaxBet, which sponsors football clubs FK Partizan Belgrade and Vojvodina FC, as an example of gambling brands’ presence in Serbian sports.
ZLF thinks banning actors and singers from gambling ads, as proposed by the government, is not enough. They want to extend the ban to athletes, since they have so much influence on younger audiences.
No Action and No Progress
ZLF is criticising the government for not addressing ads directly in its proposed amendments to the Law on Games of Chance. Đorđević said ZLF submitted its own proposal for stricter regulations in March but was not invited to discuss it with the ruling coalition.
“They have now submitted the law on games of chance, but not on advertising. We fear that the law on advertising is the most contentious issue and that is the reason why it is not there,” Đorđević stated.
Also, ZLF is criticising Trade Minister Tomislav Momirović for not being involved enough in the debates on gambling ads. Momirović previously said the government will protect young people by banning gambling ads on billboards but ZLF says more needs to be done.
Open to Compromise
Despite their criticism, ZLF members expressed readiness to support the government’s proposals as an initial step towards reducing the prominence of gambling in Serbia. The party emphasized that the forum served as both a reminder and a platform for advancing their advocacy for stricter gambling advertising rules.
