London Ministers Urged to Define ‘Harmful Gambling’ as TfL Ad Ban Considered
London officials are renewing pressure on the UK government to establish a legal definition of “harmful gambling.” The move comes as Mayor Sadiq Khan considers banning gambling advertisements across Transport for London (TfL), amid growing concern about the city’s high rates of gambling-related harm.
Growing Calls for Clearer Legislation
Mayor Sadiq Khan has long promised to prohibit gambling and casino promotions across TfL’s network. However, according to My London, without an official government definition of harmful gambling, any City Hall ban could face a legal challenge.
Last week, London Assembly Member Krupesh Hirani, Labour’s health spokesperson, launched a London-wide Gambling Harms Action Group to coordinate local efforts. Hirani told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“London is on the frontline of the nation’s gambling crisis, and we cannot sit back while communities pay the price,”
According to the latest Gambling Commission report (October 2), around 5.6% of Londoners experience gambling-related harm – almost double the national rate of 2.9%. Half of London’s residents have gambled in the past year, and 37% in the past month, dropping to 23% when lottery participation is excluded.
Advertising Under Scrutiny
TfL has earned nearly £5 million from gambling ads between 2018 and 2023. A spokesperson for the Mayor’s office said Sadiq Khan will “urgently consider” next steps once the government’s ongoing Gambling Act review is complete. Krupesh Hirani said:
“The Mayor has successfully managed to ban fast food ads on TfL – he’s able to do that because there’s verified health guidance from Government. The same advice does not exist for gambling.”
A City Hall roundtable involving Betknowmore UK, the NHS, and local authorities discussed new approaches to tackling gambling harms. The meeting followed the government’s decision to give councils new powers under the Pride in Place scheme to block new betting shops.
Addressing Local Gambling Harms
Hirani said:
“There are pockets and areas in all parts of London which are saturated with betting shops.” It will hopefully mean local authorities can [identify things to] be done practically within their boroughs while we tackle the wider lobbying issue around gambling.”
Frankie Graham, founder and CEO of Betknowmore UK, welcomed the initiative and shared his personal experience:
“My personal upbringing brought me into contact with gambling as a young boy, and by the age of 16 years old, I had already triggered what we now refer to as gambling harms.”
“These remained part of my life for the following 20 years, impacting every part of my life, as well as those around me; family, friends, employers.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London added that Khan’s:
He also confirmed that he will act swiftly once the government’s review concludes.
A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) spokesperson said there are no current plans to legislate further restrictions, but confirmed that the department is working with the Advertising Standards Authority and industry stakeholders to make gambling advertising safer.