Date: 29.01.2025

by Sebastian Warowny

Northern Ireland MLAs to Debate Public Health Approach to Gambling Harm

Northern Ireland’s Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are set to discuss a cross-party motion aimed at addressing gambling-related harm. Led by the All-Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, the motion calls for gambling to be formally recognised as a public health issue.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups

The motion, titled “Supporting a Public Health Approach to Tackling Gambling-Related Harms,” follows a year-long inquiry by the APG. Based on its findings, the group has proposed nearly 60 recommendations, advocating for a population-based approach that aligns gambling policies with those used for alcohol and tobacco.

A key focus of the recommendations is protecting children and individuals already experiencing harm from gambling-related marketing. The APG describes gambling advertising as “targeted and pervasive,” raising particular concerns about its prevalence during sports broadcasts and on social media.

Additionally, the group highlights a gap in the healthcare system, urging the Minister of Health to commission dedicated statutory services for gambling disorder.

A Call for Decisive Action

The APG estimates that up to 200,000 people in Northern Ireland could be indirectly affected by gambling-related harm each year. Calling for urgent intervention, APG chair Philip McGuigan MLA emphasized the need for a broader public health response.

“Adopting a public health approach means treating gambling in a similar way to alcohol and tobacco. We need policies that focus not just on individual-level harms but also on population-based approaches that prioritise harm prevention. The whole population is vulnerable to gambling addiction and harm”, he said.