The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform is ramping up its campaign to impose tighter restrictions on gambling advertising, particularly aimed at shielding children from betting promotions in football.
On Wednesday, the APPG held several meetings where parliament members, academic experts, and advocacy groups convened to review new findings and discuss potential policy changes.
Among the attendees were representatives from the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) and Clean Up Gambling, alongside former professional football players and persistent advocates for tougher advertising limits.
Following these discussions, the APPG expressed its support for CEGA's initiative to deliver a petition to 10 Downing Street, which calls for the complete removal of gambling advertising from football. The petition emphasizes the need to protect young football fans from betting imagery and sponsorship during matches—an issue that has gained traction among campaigners and public health officials.
The uptick in parliamentary focus comes amidst a growing scrutiny of gambling advertising. Recently, the House of Lords Liaison Committee issued a report advocating for a comprehensive ban on all gambling advertising. The committee highlighted strong evidence linking such advertising to increased gambling participation and associated harms.
Specifically, the report targeted sponsorships and advertising associated with sports teams, arguing that self-regulation has not effectively curtailed exposure. Dr. Matt Gaskell MBE noted that "overall exposure (including shirts, hoardings, logos, sponsorship and related marketing) during live sports programmes does not show that self-regulation has reduced exposure meaningfully."
In a parallel effort, earlier this year, the APPG published a report in collaboration with Peers for Gambling Reform, which called for a ban on pre-9pm gambling advertisements and sporting sponsorships.
During a parliamentary debate, MPs characterized gambling advertisements as a pressing public health concern, urging action to address this issue. Labour MP Alex Ballinger highlighted research revealing that thousands of gambling-related messages were visible during just one weekend of Premier League action, describing the environment as overwhelmingly saturated.
In contrast, Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst pointed out the financial significance of gambling revenue for sports and broadcasting. He warned that excessively strict regulations might divert customers to unregulated foreign operators, consequently expanding an already flourishing black market.
