A German health body, the Federal Centre for Health and Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung/BZgA) has warned of the rise in online gambling advertising, calling for a 9pm watershed on gambling advertising, including online ads.

The federal government commissioner for addiction and drug issues, Burkhard Blienert, critiqued the rise in gambling ads:

“Advertising for online gambling and sports betting is spreading at breakneck speed. This trend is concerning because hundreds of thousands of people already have problem gambling or are even addicted,” he said.

The commissioner also outlined a watershed policy recommendation. “I urge countries to stop advertising such offers. In plain language, there should be no more sports betting advertising before 9pm on the TV or on the internet.”