IGRG rubber stamps ‘whistle-to-whistle’ advertising ban

The ‘whistle-to-whistle’ gambling advertising ban has been ratified by the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG), paving the way for the ban to be in place by summer 2019.

As part of the new rules, agreed in principle by the Remote Gaming Association (RGA) last week, all gambling advertising will be banned during pre-watershed live sport, starting from five minutes before the event begins until five minutes after it finishes.

In addition, gambling adverts during highlight shows and re-runs will be banned, together with a ban on pre-watershed gambling sponsorships of sports programmes.

Horseracing will be excepted from the ban.

The IGRG has confirmed the amendment of its ‘Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising’ to include the new measures as part of an annual review.

John Hagan, chair of the IGRG, said the ban was proof that the industry is “responding positively” to public concerns about the amount of gambling advertising, calling it a “watershed moment” for the industry.

Hagan added: “We believe that these new voluntary TV measures, which have been approved by the trade associations representing every sector of the gambling industry, will drastically reduce the amount of gambling advertising on television and they complement the strict controls that already govern gambling companies around advertising on digital platforms.”

His sentiment was echoed by secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Jeremy Wright, who said he was pleased the gambling sector was “stepping up” and addressing this issue.

Tom Watson, deputy leader of the Labour party, which proposed a similar ‘whistle-to-whistle’ ban in September, called it an important first step in recognising that the number of gambling adverts on TV was “completely out of hand”.

Watson added: “The next step will have to be addressing the gambling adverts that children and vulnerable problem gamblers see online.”