Report: London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused of “backtracking” over TfL gambling ad ban
Green Party’s Caroline Russell suggests London’s mayor should have sufficient evidence to ban ads which “normalise and glamourise gambling” across city’s transport network
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been accused of “backtracking” on his plans to remove gambling adverts from the capital city’s tube network.
In his 2021 re-election manifesto, Khan vowed to instruct Transport for London (TfL) to ban adverts from casinos and betting platforms across its network, which includes tubes, buses, trams and other modes of transport.
During a London Assembly meeting on 25 February, Green Party member Caroline Russell asked Khan when he would “implement an ethical advertising policy for TfL, rather than wait for Londoners’ complaints and media outcry to remove gambling adverts from the transport network”.
Russell referenced complaints made by an Advertising Steering Group Meeting, held on 22 November 2024, regarding an “irresponsible” advert which could have been seen by children.
In his response to Russell on 28 February, Khan claimed he was waiting for the government to gather more evidence on the issue before moving forward with his manifesto plans.
Khan said: “I hope that the new government’s leadership of this issue will provide a national framework to addressing this issue, including providing a national definition of harmful gambling advertising.
“I intend to allow government to conclude this work before looking further at any implications for TfL’s policy.
“When we hear more detail about the government’s plans in this area, including additional evidence and evaluation, I will consider how we may be able to support at a regional level.”
Speaking to The Standard, Russell suggested Khan was reneging on the promises he made in 2021.
She said: “I’ve heard devastating [testimonies] from people affected by gambling harm, so I don’t understand why the mayor says he needs more evidence.
“Londoners who struggle with gambling need support. Instead, they are faced with adverts that normalise and glamourise gambling as they travel on the transport network.
“In 2021, the mayor’s manifesto promised to bring forward plans to ban gambling adverts on the TfL network, and now it looks like he’s backtracking.”
This was the second time in the last month Russell had called on Khan to introduce an ethical advertising policy for the TfL, following a letter she wrote on 12 February condemning an ad campaign from fashion company Shein.
The Standard also claimed TfL earned £663,640 in revenue from gambling adverts between April 2022 and March 2023.
A spokeswoman for Sadiq Khan said: “The government has a renewed commitment to looking at the best way to address gambling harms nationally.
“The mayor is pleased that one of the specific objectives of the research looks at filling gaps in the evidence base, specifically further understanding the impact of advertising.
“The mayor hopes that the new government’s leadership on this will provide a national framework to addressing this issue, including providing a national definition of harmful gambling advertising.
“Once concluded, the mayor will in turn consider how he may be able to support at a regional level.”
The London Assembly warned Khan in March 2024 that London’s problem gambling rate was twice the national average.
In response, Khan’s health adviser Tom Coffey claimed the city was waiting for the government to establish a national definition of “harmful gambling” before City Hall could move forward with any plans to ban gambling ads.