Petition To Ban Gambling Advertising

Gambling companies have agreed to what is effectively a ban on betting advertisements during live sport.

The Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG) has now confirmed the 'whistle to whistle' ban, which will begin in 2019.

Online advertising hard to regulate. With the majority of gambling ad money now spent online, most of the burden of a ban on advertising would fall on the digital sector. Social media platforms (which received ten percent of all gambling marketing revenues in 2018) would likely be easiest to regulate, according to Regulus’ Leyland. Gambling firms back ban on betting adverts during live TV sport. Gambling firms, including William Hill and Betfred, have prospectively agreed to stop advertising on a 'whistle-to-whistle' basis.

It has been decided no betting adverts will now be shown during live sport coverage before 9pm in the UK.

• Sign My Petition to STOP aggressive advertising by Gambling Houses. Kelly Field Saint Helens, United Kingdom. I am 32 year old Female with along Term partner and 15 year old son. I work full time and my Partner works Full time. I had a Grievance with my work place back in 2012.
• The Belgian Gaming Commission has developed a series of responsible advertising guidelines with Jupiler Pro League, the country’s highest football league. New measures include a ban on partnerships between the league’s clubs with gambling operators that are not licensed by the commission to operate in Belgium.
• Among them was a ban on advertising on social media and celebrity endorsements. The measures were part of an effort to reduce the impact of gambling on the young and poor. According to a report from the Daily Nation, a musician, Murigi Kamau Wanjohi, has challenged the ban.

The new rules will apply from five minutes before the event begins until five minutes after it finishes and are expected to begin around July next year.

John Hagan, chair of IGRG, said: 'We believe that this is itself a watershed moment as we strive to provide the ever, safer gambling environment which gambling consumers and the wider public expect.

'Today the gambling industry is responding positively to public concerns about the amount of gambling advertising on television before the watershed.'

The ban will not apply to horse racing and greyhound racing because of the commercial importance of the betting industry to their viability.

The gambling industry was under pressure to curb the amount of advertising in live sport as the number of problem gamblers continues to rise.

A Gambling Commission report released last month indicated that 55,000 children aged 11 to 16 could be officially categorised as problem gamblers and there were fears TV advertising was fuelling the increase.

Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, said the ban is a 'welcome move'. He added: 'I am pleased that the sector is stepping up and responding to public concerns.

'It is vital children and vulnerable people are protected from the threat of gambling-related harm. Companies must be socially responsible.'

The changes could lead to a sustained push to limit betting advertisements in other areas of sport including on shirts and billboards.

Currently 60% of Premier League and Championship football clubs have betting companies as shirt sponsors.

Betting adverts during live sporting events are set to become largely a thing of the past with the industry poised to approve a voluntary ban.

Britain's biggest gambling companies, including William Hill, Betfred and Paddy Power, have prospectively agreed to stop advertising on a 'whistle-to-whistle' basis.

It would mean any live broadcast which begins before the watershed will not contain betting adverts.

The move comes amid fears advertising during live sport is fuelling an explosion in underage gambling addicts.

The proposals, which have been put forward by the Remote Gambling Association, are yet to be fully agreed.

Sources at two of the betting companies concerned told Sky News they were having legal meetings about the prospective changes on Thursday.

It is expected they will be rubber stamped next week following a meeting of the five major gambling industry associations.

A Gambling Commission spokesperson said: 'We understand that options for enhancing the Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising are currently under review.

'We would welcome any steps to address public concerns about gambling advertising.

'Last month we brought together senior leaders from over 100 gambling companies to look at how they can work together to make gambling fairer and safer, including considering the approach they take to advertising.

'We look forward to hearing about the industry's plans.'

Petition To Ban Gambling Advertising Campaigns

The gambling industry spent £1.5bn on marketing last year, prompting fears about the impact the advertising has on children.

A Gambling Commission report released last month indicated that 55,000 children aged 11 to 16 could be officially categorised as problem gamblers.

The changes could lead to a sustained push to limit betting advertisements in other areas of sport including on shirts and billboards.

Petition To Ban Gambling Advertising Companies

Currently 60% of Premier League and Championship football clubs have betting companies as shirt sponsors.