MPs call for cut to football gambling adverts to protect children

The number of gambling adverts in football stadiums needs to be slashed to protect children, according to MPs.

A report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee responds to the government’s gambling white paper published in April this year.

The new report urges the government to take a more a more precautionary approach to gambling adverts than proposed in the white paper and says there is room for additional regulation.

Shirt sponsorship not the main problem

Although it welcomes the voluntary removal of gambling sponsorship from Premier League players’ shirts, the report says this does not go far enough.

It explains that a recent study found branding on shirts made up just 7% of all gambling advertising visible during ten broadcast matches examined.

Different research revealed nearly 7,000 gambling messages were visible during six games shown on the opening weekend of the season.

With this in mind, MPs are recommending that the number of gambling adverts in stadiums is reduced, with a higher proportion talking about safer gambling.

Other recommendations

The report backs the white paper’s proposal to introduce new checks by gambling operators on customer accounts that lose certain amounts of money within set timeframes.

It also supports extra online protections for young adults through a lower stake limit and lower thresholds for triggering financial risk checks.

The Committee is also in favour of introducing a levy on gambling operators to fund research into problem gambling, and its prevention and treatment.

Protection from bombardment of advertising

The Committee’s chair, Caroline Dinenage, said:

“While gambling regulation should not overly impinge on the freedom to enjoy what is a problem-free pastime for the majority, more should be done to shield both children and people who have experienced problem gambling from what often seems like a bombardment of advertising branding at football and other sporting events.”

Gambling in Britain

The British gambling industry is worth more than £14bn a year, with almost half of adults gambling regularly. Of these, around a third of a million experience problem gambling, and it’s likely that many more suffer some financial harm as a result of gambling.

If your gambling is getting out of hand, you can get help from GamCare. They run the National Gambling Helpline and support those harmed by gambling.