Cross-sector group calls for full ban on UK gambling ads
New survey reveals relationship between gambling sponsorship of football clubs and fans as 51% suggest they would support a total ban
A new cross-sector advocacy group has called on the UK government to ban all gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship in the forthcoming gambling act review.
The Coalition Against Gambling Ads (CAGA) is made up of members including the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), Gambling With Lives and Clean Up Gambling, which is headed up by Matt Zarb-Cousin.
Other CAGA members include The Big Step, the Gambling Health Alliance, Adfree Cities, GamFam, Stamp Out Poverty and Lewes Football Club.
The group has highlighted a recent Survation survey commissioned by Clean Up Gambling which found that 51% of respondents would support an end to gambling advertising, compared to 22% who would oppose such a move.
According to survey data, more than a third (34%) of football supporters were deterred from buying their team’s strip due to the presence of a gambling operator as sponsor.
Of the individuals surveyed, 58% thought that too many teams were sponsored by gambling firms, while 59% suggested there were too many gambling ads in football stadiums.
Two thirds of fans surveyed believe there are too many gambling ads connected to sports on TV, while 67% think the ‘whistle to whistle’ ban has failed to prevent children being exposed to gambling ads.
Story illustrated with a Leeds kit which has more than doubled the previous club sales record…almost as if the popularity of the shirt has more to do with what's happening on the pitch than the identity of the sponsor. Who knew? https://t.co/3rHmZo5bzx
— Damian McBride (@DPMcBride) October 14, 2020
A recent Off The Pitch article claimed that Everton and Aston Villa, which both ditched gambling operator sponsorships with SportPesa and W88 in the summer, have seen shirt sales increase by as much as 60% this season.
“The vast majority of football fans think there’s too much gambling advertising and a huge proportion are put off buying merchandise because of gambling sponsors,” Clean Up Gambling director Zarb-Cousin said.
“The government would have the backing of football fans if it decided to move against gambling ads, and clubs would benefit from an increase in shirt sales,” he added.
RSPH deputy CEO Duncan Stephenson highlighted its own research which found that one in 10 young people have been to a stadium sponsored by a gambling operator.
RSPH research also found 55% of young people see the relationship between sports and gambling as negative for young people.
“With other public health issues like smoking we have seen how effective a ban on advertising can be at reducing harm, and the government is taking note in other areas, with a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm announced in July this year,” Stephenson explained.
“We should approach gambling in the same way and remove these potentially harmful adverts from what should be an activity that has a positive influence on health and wellbeing,” he added.