Betting sites will no longer be permitted to give it the old college try in Illinois. The state gambling regulatory authority has issued a ban on all advertising of casinos or sports betting sites on college campuses in the Land of Lincoln.
The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) adopted new rules that expand existing restrictions on advertising, marketing, and promotions for licensed casino, video gaming, and sports wagering operators. These prohibitions include a ban on advertising on college campuses. Other new requirements have been put into place, designed to protect the public, especially young people and problem gamblers.
Previously, IGB rules placed restrictions on the content of advertising and promotional material. This included prohibitions against making false or misleading claims. The new rules go further to ensure advertisements are not placed in locations where they are likely to be seen by underage or vulnerable people.
Gambling sites in Illinois are prohibited from having advertisements or promotions published, aired, broadcast, displayed, or distributed on any college or university campus. College or university media outlets, such as college or university newspapers and radio or television broadcasts, or any sports venues used primarily for college and university events, are also off limits.
Betting sites also cannot depict college or university students, colleges or universities, or college or university settings in any ads.
“By adopting these measures, the IGB is building upon existing regulations to implement additional safeguards and standards that further protect the public and encourage responsible gambling habits,” IGB Administrator Marcus D. Fruchter said in a press release.
“These regulations provide for clear, consistent, ethical, and transparent advertising and marketing guidelines for all casino, video gaming, and sports wagering operations under IGB jurisdiction.”
The new advertising regulations prohibit betting sites from directly advertising or promoting gambling to individuals under 21 years of age. It's also forbidden to use images, symbols, celebrity or entertainer endorsements, or language designed to appeal specifically to those under 21 years of age.
Illinois is home to 249 colleges or universities. There are 63 public schools and 186 private institutions.
Beyond the college prohibitions, the IGB is also requiring that betting sites be responsible for documenting and reporting all forms of advertising to the state regulatory authority.
It will be the responsibility of the casinos and sportsbooks to retain copies of all advertising and marketing materials. They will be required to keep a log of when and how those materials have been published, aired, displayed, or distributed. These logs must be made available to the IGB upon request.
Gambling sites must also make it easier for patrons to decline receipt of any marketing or advertising pitches. It is now mandatory that all betting sites provide customers with the option to unsubscribe or opt out of advertising, marketing, or promotional materials. Additionally, operators should comply with any patron request to unsubscribe or opt out of receiving materials as soon as possible.
Additionally, the IGB is placing a prohibition on gambling sites entering into agreements with third parties that call on these third parties to conduct advertising or marketing on behalf of, or to the benefit of, the Illinois operator when compensation is dependent upon, or related to, the volume or outcome of wagers.
"Each applicant and licensee shall be responsible for the content and conduct of any and all advertising or marketing done on its behalf or benefit," the IGB noted in its ruling.
All of these measures take effect immediately.
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