Dear Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition,

I am writing to bring to the Committee’s attention a recent Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruling concerning the National Lottery’s use of undisclosed advertising on X (formerly Twitter).

I lodged a complaint after several high-profile X accounts promoted the National Lottery’s PowerBall draw of 24 July 2026 using similar messaging, hashtags and promotional material. The posts appeared to form part of a coordinated campaign but did not disclose whether they were paid or sponsored, contrary to point 3.1 of the ARB’s Social Media Code.

The ARB subsequently ruled that the National Lottery had to permanently remove the posts from all platforms on which they appeared and could not use the advertisements again in their existing format.

Given the Committee’s oversight responsibilities, I believe the ruling warrants its attention. It raises questions about how the campaign was approved and disseminated, the extent of this advertising practice, and whether adequate measures are in place to ensure compliance with advertising standards.

I previously raised this matter with the Committee Secretary but have not received a response. I therefore respectfully request that the matter and the ARB ruling be brought to the Committee’s attention, and that the Committee consider seeking an explanation from the National Lottery and establishing what measures have been taken to prevent similar breaches.

I would appreciate confirmation that the matter has been brought to the Committee’s attention and whether any follow-up action will be considered.