Since Monday, December 16, the Since have been meeting at the National Assembly for the purposes of committee work. An opportunity seized by Abdoul Ahad Ndiaye, newly installed deputy of the 15th legislature to submit a written question to the government on “the worrying growth of online sports betting and aggressive advertising targeting minors”.
According to the parliamentarian, “these practices, amplified by the influence of social networks and public figures such as certain TikTok influencers, put our young people at serious risk.”
Faced with this scourge, he calls on “the government to take urgent measures to protect our youth. The excess of online sports betting in Senegal is worrying. The volume of players and the companies that carry out this activity are increasing due to the combination of very strong advertising, particularly on the stories in advertisements targeting young people, particularly those in our schools.
These commercial practices, fueled by TikTok influencers and its popular personalities, present a danger for youth who are our key human capital for equitable development and Vision 2050,” the MP underlined.
“The risks associated with these practices, such as dependence and loss of financial resources, make them a public health issue. Online commercial advertisements are omnipresent and take advantage of the codes of the younger generation to involve them in these games of chance. The saturation of public and media spaces seems to bring good returns in terms of sports betting. But at what cost to our society? », he asks.
Continuing, he asks: “What measures does the government intend to take to regulate the advertising of online sports betting, in particular by limiting their presence in places and platforms frequented by minors?
Why not outright ban the advertising of these sites in spaces where young people and minors can be exposed, such as schools, social networks or television channels accessible to all at certain times?
Do our current laws sufficiently reflect the impact that these advertising practices can have on young people and the most vulnerable?
Would you consider strengthening legislation in this area, and in particular strengthening sanctions against companies? », he addresses to the government.
