UK MPs Advocate for Stricter Regulation on Gambling Ads in Sports Stadiums to Protect Children
The Culture, Media, and Sport Committee of the UK parliament has called for significant reductions in gambling advertisements during sports events, especially in Premier League stadiums,in a recent report.
The report highlights the need for the government to take more decisive action to minimize children's exposure to gambling advertising, urging a more precautionary approach than outlined in the gambling White Paper.
The committee welcomes the voluntary withdrawal of gambling sponsorship from the front of Premier League players' shirts, set to take effect soon. However, they express concern that this move alone will not substantially decrease the overall volume of betting advertisements visible during matches.
A study referenced in the report reveals that front-of-shirt gambling branding constitutes only 7% of all visible advertising during broadcasted matches. Another study found nearly 7,000 gambling messages during six matches on the opening weekend of the season, highlighting the scale of the issue.
To address this, MPs recommend that the proposed gambling sponsorship code of conduct, developed in collaboration with sports governing bodies, should include provisions to reduce gambling adverts within stadiums. Additionally, they suggest that a higher proportion of advertising space be dedicated to promoting safer gambling practices.
While the committee acknowledges the long-standing relationship between horseracing, greyhound racing, and betting, it advocates for a distinct approach to gambling sponsorship and advertising in these cases.
The report supports key provisions outlined in the government's Gambling White Paper, including a new system of financial risk checks by gambling operators on customer accounts that lose specific amounts within given timeframes. However, the committee emphasizes the importance of ensuring that these checks are minimally intrusive and adequately protect financial data.
Online protections for young adults are also endorsed, with the committee backing a lower stake limit and thresholds for triggering financial risk checks. Additionally, the introduction of a statutory levy to be paid by gambling operators to fund problem gambling research, prevention, and treatment is supported.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee, stressed the need for robust measures. "The Government needs to go further than the proposals in the White Paper and work with sports governing bodies on cutting the sheer volume of betting adverts people are being exposed to," she said.
The committee calls for a detailed timetable for the delivery of the White Paper's proposals, expressing concern about the absence of gambling legislation in the King's Speech. It also urges the government and the Gambling Commission to address the growing trend of unlicensed gambling sites targeting self-excluded individuals.
As the debate on gambling regulations intensifies, the report underscores the importance of safeguarding children and individuals with a history of problem gambling from the pervasive influence of betting advertisements, particularly in the high-profile arena of sports stadiums.
