New Betting and Gaming Council Ad Rules to Protect Under 18s

New Betting and Gaming Council Ad Rules to Protect Under 18s

The Betting and Gaming Council members represent some of the biggest name in the gambling industry, including Playtech, Entain brands like Ladbrokes and Foxy, Flutter brands like Sky Betting and Gaming and Rank brands like Mecca Bingo. The rules the BGC has members adhere to mean that most of the UK gambling market has added protections over and above those provided by the UK Gambling Commission.

In addition to basic player protections and safer gambling regulations, the BGC is very strong on the protection from gambling harm of under 18s. This week the organisation has introduced new measures relating to digital media advertising that is accessible to under-18s.

This new improvement to industry standards becomes live on 1st December 2023.

  • The 20% rule ensuring safer gambling messaging represents at least a fifth of TV and radio advertising is extended to digital media advertising
  • Current rules that all sponsored or paid for social media adverts must be targeted at those aged 25 and over unless the website proves its adverts can be precisely targeted at over 18s, will be extended to all digital media platforms who provide an appropriate age filter.

BGC collaborated with Bacta, the Bingo Association and the Lotteries Council to develop the new rules to ensure every aspect of the industry is involved.

BGC members are tasked to take a zero-tolerance approach to betting by children. The Gambling Commission’s ‘Young People and Gambling Report’ (2022) revealed that the most popular forms of betting by children are arcade games like penny pusher and claw grab machines (22 per cent) bets between friends (15 per cent), playing cards for money (5 per cent) and fruit machines (3 per cent) – not with ‘hard-core’ gambling sites like those operated by BGC members.

The good news is that the same report showed gambling by children (11-16 years) has fallen significantly since 2011. It was at  23 per cent of children participating in some form of gambling on a past-week basis to 7 per cent in 2022.

Latest Casino and Bingo offers

Buzz Bingo

Kitty Bingo

Neptune Play Casino

Mega Riches Casino

BetMGM Casino UK

Other Latest Industry News

12. Sep 2025 11:33
Reality TV favourite Nicola McLean shares her love of bingo with her nan, debating on panel shows, and the one thing people will be surprised to learn about her. WhichBingo hosted our first-ever Celebrity Party at Dabbers Bingo this summer, where we caught up with Nicola who brought honesty, humour, and a dose of nostalgia to the night. Big Brother vS The Jungle As a veteran of both Celebrity Big…
by
Killian Morris
Killian Morris
Time to read 4min
Read this news
5. Sep 2025 12:47
At WhichBingo’s Celebrity Party at Dabbers Bingo, we caught up with TV favourite David Potts, who brought his trademark energy and cheeky humour to the night. True to form, David didn’t hold back when chatting about his love of naughty bingo, his exciting upcoming projects, and his answers to our 21 quickfire questions. “Love a Bit of Naughty Bingo” As the party was about to kick off, David couldn’t hide…
by
Killian Morris
Killian Morris
Time to read 4min
Read this news
28. Aug 2025 16:32
Leeds bingoers will be dabbing in style after a new £5.5 million Club 3000 Bingo opened. More than 850 guests – including a Coronation Street star – packed out the venue over the weekend for the grand opening of the brand-new, state-of-the-art club in Hunslet. It was an evening of entertainment, live music, and, of course, plenty of bingo games. Ice Cream Van in a Bingo Club This is the…
by
Nic McBride - WhichBingo Senior Editor
Nic McBride
Time to read 2min
Read this news
26. Aug 2025 12:37
They might be reality TV royalty, but even fame doesn’t make you a bingo winner! Celebrity guests David Potts (Celebrity Big Brother), Nicola McLean (Celebrity Big Brother), Tayce (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK), Brendan Sheerin (Coach Trip) and Marc Almond aka CookingwithTubz (Tiktok) enjoyed a night of glitz, glamour, and bingo balls at WhichBingo’s inaugural Celebrity Party. Despite missing out on prizes like fish flip-flops and onion goggles, all the celebrities…
by
Charles Shakespeare
Charles Shakespeare
Time to read 3min
Read this news
Spinner
Anita Heffernan Whichbingo Author
Anita Heffernan
Author & Managing Editor
The Bingo Queen is a fun name earned from colleagues through Anita Heffernan's exceptional knowledge and commitment to the online bingo world. With over 20 years of experience as both a player and an expert in the industry, Anita has built a reputation as a trusted authority on all things bingo.

Reader comments