Northern Ireland's All Party Group calls on Westminster to restrict gambling ads
Key campaigners urge UK government to impose restrictions similar to the Republic of Ireland, such as a gambling advert watershed
Northern Ireland’s All Party Group (APG) on reducing harm related to gambling has urged the UK government to follow Ireland’s lead and restrict gambling adverts.
Earlier this month, the Republic of Ireland brought the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 into law, with one aspect of the new act restructuring the way gambling commercials are permitted to be shown.
As a result, Ireland now has a watershed that means no gambling adverts can be shown between 5.30am and 9pm.
Those restrictions apply to the more traditional avenues of advertising, such as TV and radio, as well as certain online platforms.
Social media gambling adverts are permitted only if the recipient is following the account of a gambling company.
The new legislation allows the new Irish regulator, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, to determine where gambling adverts are broadcast, displayed or published as well as the frequency, duration and number of advertisements that can be shown.
Any adverts that are “likely to portray gambling as attractive to children” are specifically targeted under the new regulations, as are gambling adverts shown at events which may be attended by children.
In turn, members of the APG have urged Westminster to take similar action, claiming that Ireland’s update to its gambling regulations have placed the spotlight on the need for the same in Britain.
They argued that in Britain, “gambling-related marketing has become a normal part of consuming sport” before citing research by Bristol University which highlighted the amount of betting adverts viewers were exposed to during the opening weekend of the current Premier League season.
APG chair Philip McGuigan heralded the impact that Ireland’s updated regulation could have, saying: “This is the first comprehensive reform of gambling law in the south of Ireland in almost 70 years.
“These changes will provide protection to those who may be at risk of gambling harm. The legislation also specifically prohibits advertising for gambling which may be attractive to children.”
APG vice-chair Robbie Butler bemoaned the fact that Northern Ireland’s gambling regulation lagged behind its neighbours.
“Northern Ireland now stands alone as the only jurisdiction on these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet,” he remarked.
“We know that unfortunately the Northern Ireland executive does not have sufficient legislative time in this assembly mandate to take forward a gambling bill. However, there are steps that the government at Westminster can take now to protect the public in Northern Ireland and elsewhere from gambling harms.”
The APG signed off by referencing a recent Lancet Public Health Commission report which stressed the need for international coordination over regulatory updates tackling the task of reducing gambling-related harm.