GambleAware Urges Stricter Controls on Betting Advertisements

Public Sentiment on Gambling Ads

A survey conducted for GambleAware found that two-thirds of UK residents believe there are too many betting advertisements.

These ads particularly affect individuals with gambling problems, who are significantly more likely to increase their betting after exposure to such advertising.

Although the government published a white paper on gambling regulation last year proposing various measures, it did not address advertising comprehensively.

GambleAware has described this omission as a missed opportunity and is pressing for more robust measures.

Proposed Measures by GambleAware

GambleAware proposes a complete ban on gambling marketing at sports events, which would include removing sponsorships from sports clothing and stadium areas. This follows the Premier League’s voluntary agreement to drop gambling brands from front-of-shirt sponsorships by 2026, although this agreement does not cover pitchside advertisements or lower league teams.

The charity also seeks a pre-watershed ban on gambling advertisements across TV, video on demand, and radio. The current industry standard is a voluntary “whistle to whistle” ban, which prohibits advertising during live sports broadcasts.

GambleAware’s CEO, Zoe Osmond, highlighted the high volume of gambling ads during times when children are likely to be exposed, such as the school run. She emphasized that, despite previous government statements to the contrary, new data indicates a need to reassess the impact of advertising on gambling behavior.

GambleAware’s research shows that 40% of individuals with gambling problems reported that advertisements led them to spend more time and money on betting. This contrasts with the government’s previous stance, which cited a lack of evidence linking advertising to gambling harm.