The lack of action to ban gambling advertisements in the UK has been described as “embarrassing” by critics, who argue that more stringent regulations are urgently needed to protect vulnerable individuals from the potentially harmful effects of gambling.
Despite mounting evidence linking gambling advertising to problem gambling behavior, including a recent study that found a direct correlation between exposure to gambling ads and increased gambling activity among young people, regulators have failed to take decisive action to address the issue.
Campaigners have long called for a ban on gambling advertisements during live sporting events, arguing that the saturation of ads during matches normalizes and glamorizes gambling, particularly among young viewers. According to a recent report by the UK Gambling Commission, nearly half of all children aged 11-15 have been exposed to gambling advertisements on TV, with 70% of those ads being shown during live sports broadcasts.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has guidelines in place to regulate the content and placement of gambling ads, but critics argue that these guidelines are not stringent enough to protect vulnerable individuals from the insidious impact of gambling marketing.
In response to mounting pressure, the UK government launched a review of gambling laws in 2019, with the intention of introducing stricter regulations to curb the harms associated with gambling. However, progress on the review has been slow, with many critics expressing frustration at the lack of concrete action to address the issue.
Professor Jim Orford, a leading expert on gambling addiction, described the lack of action to ban gambling ads as “embarrassing” and called for regulators to take urgent steps to protect vulnerable individuals from the potentially devastating consequences of problem gambling.
“It’s time for regulators to stop dragging their feet and prioritize the health and well-being of the public over the profits of the gambling industry,” Orford said.
In light of the mounting evidence linking gambling advertising to problem gambling behavior, campaigners are calling for an outright ban on all gambling advertisements, particularly during live sporting events where young people are most at risk of exposure.
The UK government has a duty to protect its citizens from harm, and it’s time for regulators to take decisive action to address the scourge of gambling advertising once and for all. Failure to do so would be a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the most vulnerable members of society.
