Gambling Ads Face Possible Ban from Daytime TV

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, October 18, 2016

According to a report published recently in The Times, a shakeup of the way gambling operators are allowed to advertise within the UK may be on the cards. The report indicates a proposed ban on TV gambling adverts before the 9pm watershed is being considered by the government. The changes have been proposed with a view to protecting children and people with problem gambling behaviour from the influence of such ads.

Figures released by the Gambling Commission show the number of people in the UK with a severe gambling problem nearly doubled between June 2013 and June 2016, increasing from 0.4% of the population to 0.7%, or in other words, 336,000 people. What’s more, there was a significant increase from 0.7% to 1.5% of problem gamblers aged 18 – 24, showing that it is younger generations who are particularly affected.

Under current rules and regulations, adverts for all types of gambling products can be shown after 9pm. Yet gambling adverts can be shown before the watershed if they are advertising bingo products or if they are broadcast during the breaks in live sporting events. Let’s face it, you can’t watch a football match on the box these days without Ray “I gamble responsibly” Winstone quoting the latest in-play odds at you. An unnamed source at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport pointed out that “as it stands, betting sites can basically be advertising to children all weekend.”

Experts have argued that children see gambling as normal due to such adverts, which could be a factor in explaining the increase of problem gambling amongst the younger generation. What’s more, one in three premier league football teams is now sponsored by an online casino. On top of this, children are exposed to gambling adverts on social media, with another report showing that following many popular football accounts on Twitter would see special promos from gambling companies posted onto their timeline. It is the combination of these elements that has led to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport requesting a review. As such, gambling adverts on TV and social media will be added to the Government’s ongoing review into controversial fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said last month: “The government is committed to ensuring that people, particularly the young and vulnerable, are protected from the risk of gambling-related harm. We are keeping the issue of advertising under review to ensure that sufficient protections are in place, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.”

Any type of ban on advertising is likely to be severely opposed by both the gambling industry as well as broadcasters. It has been reported that gambling firms’ spend on advertising has increased significantly in recent years, and has already exceeded £162m so far this year. In response to the news that advertising may be curbed, shares in several leading gambling companies and broadcasters saw a decrease. Shares in William Hill dropped by nearly 4%, Ladbrokes lost 4.6% and ITV lost 5% of its stock market value.