SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Gambling harm prevention charity GambleAware has criticised gambling marketing regulations in the UK, stating that they’re ‘falling behind’ the rest of Europe.
A new report commissioned by the charity, published by the University of Bristol and Ipsos, showcased that there is “mounting evidence” in favour of the stance that the UK is the European outlier when it comes to the strictness of gambling regulations compared to fellow nations like Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium – despite having done ‘more research on the topic than those countries combined’.
The bottom line of the paper is that regulation across Europe is becoming more strict, intentionally limiting public exposure to prevent an increase in harm levels. However, the UK still lags behind in this aspect, evident by the fact that there is no primary legislation to regulate gambling marketing on TV, radio, online and in sport, GambleAware added.
Lord Foster of Bath, Chair of Peers for Gambling Reform, said: “Every day we are bombarded by gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship on TV, radio and online. There is huge public support to curb it and there’s a wealth of research showing the harm it causes. But we remain woefully behind the curve in terms of the regulation needed to protect individuals from harm.
“Crucially, the power to regulate key aspects of this – such as gambling advertising – is already within the gift of the Secretary of State as set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Our current regulations are too lenient, and fail to advance the much-needed public health approach to gambling that Peers for Gambling Reform has long called for.”
Some of the changes that GambleAware is calling for include a pre-watershed ban on broadcast advertising, restrictions on gambling content and online marketing, a blanket ban across sports, and mandatory health warnings included in all types of gambling marketing.
The charity also included supporting evidence that there is already significant public backing for some of its proposals, with 67% of those surveyed agreeing there is “too much” gambling advertisements, while 74% and 72% want to see more regulations across social media and TV, respectively.
Estimates from 2017 around the total annual spend operators dish out for advertising and marketing was around £1.5bn, GambleAware added. Furthermore, Premier League fans experienced around 30,000 gambling messages during this season’s opening weekend – a 165% YoY increase, according to a September study cited by the charity.
Prof. Siân Griffiths CBE, public health expert and Chair of GambleAware Trustees, said: “We have previously highlighted that the lack of gambling advertising and marketing regulation in this country is a missed opportunity. It is important we remember that gambling can be addictive and gambling harms need to be recognised as a public health issue that can affect anyone.
“We have long been concerned about the impact gambling ads and marketing can have on children and young people. This is why urgent action is needed to protect the next generation from experiencing harm.”
It is expected that the Government will soon publish the results of its statutory levy consultation, eventually subjecting operators to a percentage of their profits being donated towards RG causes like prevention, research and treatment of gambling harm.
However, GambleAware added a note of urgency to its report, saying that changes might be needed even earlier than that.
Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, concluded: “We look forward to the forthcoming implementation of the statutory levy by the new Government, which will provide much-needed clarity for the future system to tackle gambling harms and provide vital funding for prevention initiatives.
“But we mustn’t forget that the bombardment of gambling marketing in this country is a key reason why people find themselves in a position where they need advice, support or treatment. The changes we are proposing are fair and sensible, but crucially will make a huge difference – gambling harms can affect anyone, and we must do everything we can to keep people safe from gambling harm.”
