New Pressure on Betting Adverts in English Football

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on gambling reform in the UK Parliament has accelerated its work to introduce tighter limits on betting advertising, marketing and sponsorship. The group's focus is on preventing children from being exposed to betting promotions in football.

MPs, peers, academics and campaigners attended meetings held on Wednesday. Representatives of the Stop Gambling Ads Coalition and Clean Up Gambling, as well as former footballers, also took part in the discussions. The group announced that it will support the petition the coalition will submit to Downing Street. The petition calls on the government to completely remove betting adverts from football.

A report recently published by the Lords Committee also recommended a comprehensive ban on all betting advertising. The report stated that there is strong evidence linking betting adverts with increased participation and related harms. According to the report, voluntary arrangements have not meaningfully reduced the visibility of sports-related adverts.

MP Alex Ballinger said that thousands of betting messages were seen over a single Premier League weekend, and that this level of exposure is felt everywhere. The group also called for a ban on betting adverts before 9pm and for the removal of sports sponsorships.