The Labour government is coming under increasing pressure to impose stricter regulations on gambling advertising, following on from what many had viewed as a ‘soft touch’ approach from the Conservatives.
At a summit held near the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, campaigners and experts have now urged culture secretary Lisa Nandy to overturn the previous government’s lax attitude towards controls.
Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan-Smith, who co-chairs a cross-party parliamentary group that evaluates gambling’s impact, spoke at the event and pointed out that a majority of the UK public supports banning gambling ads altogether.
While opting not to call for an outright ban in itself, Duncan Smith did conclude that: “Politicians need to find their way towards the public on this. It’s clear and obvious what can be done and what should be done.”
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He also urged the new government to ban inducements and incentives to gamble – such as so-called ‘free’ bets, and called for greater restrictions on gambling advertising in sport, alongside banning sponsorships on football shirts and ads in football stadiums.
Also present at the summit was legendary football commentator Clive Tyldesley, who openly admitted to leaving his job at TalkSport due to the radio station’s habitual promotion of sports gambling during games.
The Advertising Standards Authority’s CEO, Guy Parker admitted to being shocked by the amount of betting advertising he saw, but clarified that any policymaking should be left to government.
On the issue, a government statement read: “Most people gamble without issue, but we recognise the impact harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families and we are absolutely committed to strengthening protections for those at risk.”
