UK MPs Call for Reduction in Football Gambling Adverts to Protect Children

In a report released on Thursday, the culture, media, and sport (CMS) committee of the UK Parliament has urged organizations like the Premier League to cut down on the number of gambling advertisements displayed in stadiums. The primary goal behind this move is to minimize the exposure of children to gambling promotions, which have become increasingly prevalent.

MPs have also recommended allocating more space for promoting safer gambling practices. This step aims to strike a balance between allowing responsible gambling and shielding vulnerable individuals from harm.

The report acknowledges that horse and greyhound racing have deep-rooted connections with gambling and suggests a different approach for these sports. While emphasizing the need to protect both children and those with gambling issues, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the CMS committee, asserted that action is necessary to reduce what seems like an overwhelming influx of gambling advertising during football and other sporting events.

The committee's report goes beyond the suggestions presented in the white paper released in April, which primarily focused on improving gambling regulation through measures like affordability checks and stake limits. However, the white paper lacked substantial measures addressing advertising concerns.

Highlighting the "urgent need" to assess the effects of gambling advertising on the risk of harm, the CMS committee emphasizes the importance of protecting children from exposure to such content. The government is urged to collaborate with sports governing bodies to reduce the volume of betting adverts to which people are exposed.

The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) responded to the CMS Committee's report by praising the rejection of a blanket ban on gambling advertisements. The BGC agreed with the call for a Sport Sponsorship Code and urged its swift publication. The industry, according to the BGC, needs to step up its standards, especially in terms of self-regulation.

A September study found that self-regulation in the gambling industry was "completely failing." The study discovered that a significant number of gambling ads did not clearly identify themselves and lacked gambling harm reduction messages or age warnings. This report underscores the necessity of stricter measures to control gambling advertising and protect vulnerable individuals.