𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham has been urged to impose a complete ban on gambling advertising amid fears that thousands of children are becoming addicted to online betting. It would bring an end to bookmaker sponsorship of football teams and other sports organisations.

The gambling industry insists that a ban would cost hundreds of jobs and rob grassroots sports of funding. One industry source said: “This report admits there’s no causal link between gambling advertising and harm, but then goes on to call for a blanket ban that would cost hundreds of jobs and hammer grassroots sport.”

But a cross-party House of Lords committee has warned that tough action is needed, after experts told an inquiry that up to 1.5million adults in Great Britain have a gambling problem. This can mean that gambling has damaged their health, their relationship with others or their finances to such an extent that they are forced to borrow or draw on savings. Approximately 68,000 children and young people under the age of 18 are believed to have a problem, according to the Gambling Commission, the industry’s official regulator.

In a new report, the Lords Liaison Committee said: “A comprehensive ban on gambling advertising represents the most effective policy option to advance meaningfully the Government’s aim of reducing gambling harms.”

Those involved in the inquiry included Lord Foster of Bath, a former local government minister. He said: “Governments in the past have accepted that gambling should be treated as a public health issue. There’s good reason for that.

“Actually, there are millions of people who are affected by other people’s gambling, such as family, friends and local communities.

“And tragically, although the figures are really quite difficult to get hold of, we know that far too many people are committing suicide because of gambling.”

The growing popularity of online gambling has provided opportunities for children to gamble, he warned.

“Children begin to believe that the only way you can actually enjoy watching sports is by gambling on it,” he said.

“Children today know as many gambling company logos as they do of major food outlets’ logos. So this urgent action needs to be taken, and the most effective way, we believe, of doing it is by getting rid of gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship.”

The inquiry said Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all had tougher advertising restrictions than the UK.

A ban might force some businesses, including sports clubs, to look for other sources of income, but this would be a return to the situation that existed before 2005, when only bingo, football pools, the National Lottery, and other permitted lotteries were allowed to advertise on television and radio, the committee said.

Lord Foster, previously MP for Bath as Don Foster, admitted an advertising ban might lead to job cuts in the gambling industry but argued this would reduce problem gambling and the harm it causes.

A spokesperson for Sky Bet and Paddy Power owner Flutter said: “We believe the right to advertise is an important benefit of being a legal, licensed and regulated business. It helps customers distinguish responsible operators from illegal ones, who offer none of the same customer protections.

“Flutter is particularly proud of Sky Bet’s 13-year partnership with the English Football League, which has invested tens of millions into the game. At its heart is a commitment to promote responsible gambling and fund player education across all 72 clubs.

“Paddy Power’s partnership with Prostate Cancer UK has also encouraged nearly half a million men to check their risk, something former prime minister Rishi Sunak credited with helping to save lives.”

Grainne Hurst, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “This is a deeply misguided report which risks weakening, rather than strengthening, consumer protection.

“Britain already has strict rules governing gambling advertising, specifically designed to protect children and vulnerable people. BGC members have gone further, introducing the whistle-to-whistle ban during live sport and additional restrictions on digital marketing.

“Most concerning is the report’s willingness to dismiss the rapidly growing threat from the criminal gambling market simply because it does not fit its conclusions.

“The right to advertise is one of the fundamental distinctions between a legal, licensed and highly regulated operator and an illegal website. Licensed businesses must follow strict advertising rules, conduct age checks, offer self-exclusion, make safer gambling interventions and contribute through tax and funding for treatment, prevention and British sport. Illegal operators do none of those things.

“There are important lessons from overseas which should not simply be ignored. Italy introduced a near-total ban on gambling advertising years ago, yet continues to face a substantial illegal market. In the Netherlands, where advertising restrictions have been significantly tightened, the gambling regulator has explicitly warned against a total advertising ban while reporting that only around half of gambling expenditure is currently taking place with licensed operators.

“None of this is an argument against robust advertising rules. It is an argument for proportionate, evidence-led regulation which recognises the fundamental difference between businesses operating within one of the most tightly controlled sectors of the economy and illegal operators who ignore every rule.

“A blanket advertising ban would remove a key competitive advantage of being licensed and regulated while doing nothing to stop illegal operators targeting British consumers. That risk deserves serious consideration, not dismissal.”