A new report from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has revealed that children’s exposure to gambling adverts on television is continuing to decline. The report, which analyzed data from the past year, found that there has been a significant reduction in the number of gambling ads seen by children during peak viewing times.
According to the report, the total number of gambling ads seen by children aged between 4 and 15 fell by 21% in 2020 compared to the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year of decline in children’s exposure to gambling adverts on TV.
The report also found that the proportion of gambling ads shown during children’s programming has decreased significantly, with just 2.5% of all gambling ads appearing during shows that are popular with young viewers. This is a marked improvement from previous years, when a much larger proportion of gambling ads were shown during children’s programming.
Overall, the report indicates that efforts to reduce children’s exposure to gambling ads on TV are having a positive impact. The ASA has been working closely with broadcasters and advertisers to implement stricter guidelines and regulations surrounding the placement of gambling adverts, and it seems that these efforts are paying off.
“Children are particularly vulnerable to the influence of advertising, which is why it’s so important to ensure that they are not being exposed to harmful messages about gambling,” said ASA spokesperson Samantha Parker. “We are pleased to see that our efforts to reduce children’s exposure to gambling ads on TV are making a difference, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely and take further action if necessary.”
Despite the progress that has been made, the report also highlights areas where improvement is still needed. For example, the report found that some gambling ads were still being shown during live sporting events, which are popular with both adults and children. The ASA has vowed to work with broadcasters and sports organizations to address this issue and ensure that children are not being exposed to gambling ads during sporting events.
Overall, the report paints a positive picture of the current state of gambling advertising on TV in relation to children. While there is still work to be done, it is clear that efforts to reduce children’s exposure to gambling adverts are starting to have an impact. The ASA will continue to closely monitor the situation and take action where necessary to protect young viewers from the potentially harmful effects of gambling advertising.
