National Lottery chiefs have been told that their TV ads should be banned from early evening slots because they unfairly affect children.
The claim was made by an anti-gambling Oireachtas senator who wants a 9pm curfew so Lotto ads and Lotto draws are not seen by kids.
He claims that the Lotto draw, which has aired at the same time on RTE since 1988 and goes out during its family night movie, should be delayed until after the watershed.
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Labour party senator Mark Wall said: “I find it unacceptable that we are interrupting family time on a Saturday night when thousands of families sit down to watch a movie but have that interrupted for the Lotto draw.
“I can’t for the life of me think of why the Lotto can’t be on at a later time. It needs to be on at a later time.
“I’m calling on RTE and the Lotto to put the Lotto draw on at a later time.”
Senator Wall believes gambling can “be a lonely place” and we need to “protect people” against it.
He added: “So many parents have had to explain to children what gambling is because their kids saw gambling ads on the telly.
“That is unacceptable. Some of these children are as young as six years of age.
“We have legislation coming through to regulate that and it cannot come quick enough.
“No child should be exposed to gambling and that is the most important issue here.”
RTE responded to criticisms by stating that it regularly covers issues caused by problem gambling, referencing plot lines in its award-winning drama Fair City.
But RTE did not disclose how much it has received in revenue from companies which advertise its gambling products on the broadcaster’s platforms.
The Lotto similarly did not disclose how much it has spent on advertising with RTE.
But its officials recently told an Oireachtas finance committee that €90m of unclaimed prize money was spent on advertising between 2015 and 2020.
The committee heard last December that all unclaimed prizes must be used to fund its “promotion” under the terms of the license granted to Premier Lotteries Ireland to run the National Lottery.
The Lottery, which has given €289m to good causes, has this week defended its practices, insisting it operates one of the most prayer-protection systems available, such as prohibiting ticket sales between 11pm and 7am, and enforcing players’ spending limits.
It said its products are marketed exclusively at adults only and that it is monitored by the regulator.
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