Italy’s advertising and communications regulator, Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (Agcom), has fined Google €700,000 and its advertising agency another €750,000 for violating the country’s gambling advertising ban. did.
The fines relate to ads that appeared on Top Ads’ Spike YouTube channel, but Agcom did not say which gambling operators or products were being promoted.
However, Agcom said the fine against YouTube’s parent company Google was the first to be imposed against a video service provider for violating the so-called “Dignity Order”, which effectively bans all gambling advertising. rice field.
YouTube gave Spike “verified partner” status and was responsible for ensuring that the channel did not publish illegal content, so Google and YouTube were not responsible for the content displayed on the channel. The group added that there is.
While this is the first fine associated with YouTube, Agcom has previously fined Google, fined €100,000 for advertising within its search product in October 2020. However, this was overturned last year.
Widespread advertising bans in Italy have caused particular difficulties for football clubs, many of which had previously partnered with gambling operators.Partnerships focused on other markets such as Asia continue It is allowed, but clubs and football bodies are calling for the ban to be relaxed because of the loss of income since it came into effect.
