TLDR A House of Lords Liaison Committee report says gambling advertising should be banned across the UK to reduce gambling harm. Between 1 and 1.5 million British adults, about 2.4% of those over 18, meet the criteria for problem gambling. The Betting and Gaming Council says a ban would push bettors to the black market and cost jobs. Entain and bet365 have already announced hundreds of job cuts following higher UK gambling taxes. The Netherlands saw a 35% drop in new player registrations after banning gambling ads on radio and TV.
A House of Lords Liaison Committee has released a report calling for a full ban on gambling advertising, marketing, and sports sponsorship in the UK. The report says this is the most effective way to reduce gambling harm across the country.
Between 1 and 1.5 million British adults meet the criteria for problem gambling. That works out to around 2.4% of adults aged 18 and over.
The report points to testimony from researchers who study gambling behavior. One expert said the evidence linking gambling ads to gambling activity is clear.
A University of Sheffield study found soccer fans were 22-33% more likely to bet when watching World Cup matches that included gambling ads. The report says people already at risk of gambling harm are more likely to be affected by ads.
Industry Pushes Back on Proposed Ban
The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents most UK gambling operators, opposes a full ban. The group says it would send bettors to unlicensed websites and hurt the economy.
This week, Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, announced 400 job cuts. That news came days after bet365 said it would cut 340 jobs, about 3% of its UK workforce.
The Betting and Gaming Council says the industry has