A committee in the House of Lords has recommended a complete ban on gambling advertising across the United Kingdom, arguing that such stronger restrictions are essential to mitigate gambling-related harm. This cross-party group characterized the damage caused by gambling as a significant public health concern, noting that estimates suggest between 1 and 1.5 million adults in the UK are experiencing gambling problems.
The review was prompted by a lack of progress on earlier recommendations and significant changes in the gambling advertising landscape since 2020. Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, the senior deputy speaker and chair of the Liaison Committee, highlighted this concern, stating that the UK has become relatively isolated compared to other regions that have adopted much stricter regulations on gambling advertising.
According to the report, the voluntary recommendations currently in place have not substantially reduced the exposure of sports to gambling ads. The committee also questioned whether prohibiting sponsorships related to gambling on football shirts would effectively decrease gambling advertisements, noting that such sponsorships might simply shift to other platforms, including training kits.
To address these issues, the committee proposed an outright ban on all gambling-related advertisements from sports team uniforms and kits, as well as around sports venues. Lord Foster of Bath pointed out that reducing gambling participation could have extensive benefits for the economy. He referenced research from the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research, indicating that a 10% decrease in gambling spending could increase the value-added GDP by £1.25 billion and create over 22,000 jobs.
The committee concluded that the Gambling Commission is best equipped to oversee this ban but emphasized the need for increased funding and a larger team of experts to ensure effective regulation of advertising practices.
