The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Gambling Reform has stepped up its campaign to enforce stricter regulations on gambling advertising in football, aiming specifically to shield children from betting promotions.
On Wednesday, the APPG organized several meetings that invited members of parliament, peers, academics, and advocates to review new evidence and discuss possible policy actions.
Among those present were delegates from the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) and Clean Up Gambling, along with former professional footballers who have been active in the push for tighter gambling advertising control.
After the event, the APPG expressed its formal endorsement of a petition delivered by CEGA to 10 Downing Street, urging the government to eliminate gambling advertising from football entirely. The petition highlights the need to protect young football enthusiasts from experiencing betting imagery and sponsorships during matches, an issue that has sparked significant debate among campaigners and public health officials.
The recent uptick in parliamentary activity comes amid heightened scrutiny of gambling advertising. Just recently, the House of Lords Liaison Committee released a report advocating for an outright ban on all forms of gambling advertising.
The report points to compelling evidence linking gambling ads to increased participation in gambling and subsequent harms associated with it. The committee particularly focused on the role of sponsorships and advertising by sports teams, arguing that voluntary measures have not effectively curtailed the industry's visibility.
Dr. Matt Gaskell MBE noted in the report 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."
Earlier this year, the APPG also published a report in collaboration with Peers for Gambling Reform, which advocated for a ban on gambling advertisements before 9 PM and called for a prohibition on sporting sponsorships.
In a parliamentary debate that followed the report's release, MPs labeled gambling advertisements as a public health crisis and underscored the need for legislative action. Sporting sponsorships, in particular, drew heightened scrutiny.
Labour MP Alex Ballinger referenced research indicating that thousands of gambling-related messages were visible during a single weekend of Premier League matches, describing the exposure as overwhelmingly pervasive.
Conversely, Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst emphasized the economic significance of gambling revenue for sports and broadcasting, warning that stringent regulations might drive consumers towards unlicensed offshore operators, thereby fostering a growing black market.
