Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Sport: Gambling Advertising — [Sir Christopher Chope in the Chair]

13 March 2024 · 6 other contributors · 10,687 words

Opened by Ronnie Cowan SNP Inverclyde

Responding minister: Stuart Andrew

Culture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Ronnie Cowan raised concerns about sport: gambling advertising — [sir christopher chope in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP Ronnie Cowan raised concerns about the extensive presence of gambling advertising in sports, noting 3,500 gambling logos visible during a single English Premier League game.
  • Cowan highlighted that only 7% of gambling logos are on the front of sports shirts despite the industry spending 1.5 billion annually on advertising.
  • The government committed to a review of gambling legislation, publishing a Gambling Act White Paper last April with reforms aimed at mitigating risks and preventing gambling-related harms.

Key requests to Government

Cowan asks the government to ban gambling advertising in sports entirely, arguing it should be treated similarly to tobacco advertising.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Ronnie Cowan SNP Inverclyde

MP Ronnie Cowan is concerned about the pervasive nature of gambling advertising in sports, highlighting that despite spending £1.5 billion annually, only 7% of gambling logos are on the front of shirts. He mentions instances where 3,500 gambling logos were visible during a single English Premier League game and over 80,000 UK children are addicted to or at risk from gambling. Cowan emphasises that advertising normalises gambling and increases its reach among people who already have problems with their gambling.

Other contributors (6)
  • Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrew North

    The debate addresses the issue of problem gambling, noting that advertising revenue from gambling has grown significantly since the Gambling Act 2005. The speaker highlighted a case of an individual who turned his life around after becoming addicted to gambling but also emphasized that this is not typical. He mentioned the subliminal messaging through gambling advertisements and the exposure of young people to such ads, which can lead to problem gambling. He called for comprehensive regulation to reduce harms from gambling.

  • Iain Duncan Smith Con Chingford and Woodford Green

    He emphasised the need to move away from voluntary agreements with the gambling industry, citing studies showing that over 95% of young people aged 11-24 have been exposed to gambling marketing messages. He highlighted the frequency of gambling references in football matches and noted that more than half of Premier League clubs and three-quarters of Championship clubs sponsor gambling companies on their shirts. Duncan Smith also criticised current ASA codes for failing to deliver harm reduction, suggesting the creation of new online-specific regulations.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon highlighted the significant impact of gambling in Northern Ireland, where 2.3% of the population has a gambling problem—four times higher than on the GB mainland. He discussed the alarming trend of under-18s participating in gambling and the influence of ads on TV during football matches that encourage young people to gamble. He advocated for stricter regulations on celebrity endorsements in gambling advertisements, citing the addictive nature of gambling as a major concern.

  • Paul Blomfield Lab Sheffield Central

    I am concerned about the increasing level of gambling addiction, highlighted by Jack Ritchie's tragic death due to gambling addiction—one of an estimated 400 each year. Up to 1.44 million adults in the UK are harmed directly by gambling. Additionally, 80,000 UK children are addicted to gambling or at risk of gambling addiction. The more people are exposed to betting advertising, the higher their likelihood of developing an addiction, particularly for children and young people. Mr Blomfield questioned the integrity of the Minister's argument about the marginal impact of advertising, pointing out that if it were so minor, why would the gambling industry spend heavily on such campaigns.

  • Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire

    She expressed concern over the impact of gambling advertisements on communities, citing research showing that nearly 7,000 gambling messages were shown in televised matches during the Premier League's opening weekend. She noted that nationally, 1.4 million adults are harmed directly by gambling and 80,000 UK children are at risk or addicted to it. Hopkins thanked organisations like Gambling with Lives and The Big Step for raising awareness of the harm caused by gambling. She highlighted the impact on football players in recovery who advertise addictive products and praised Luton Town FC for refusing a gambling shirt sponsor, while criticizing other clubs that continue such partnerships.

  • Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South

    Ms Peacock highlighted the complex relationship between gambling and sports, expressing concern about the impact of gambling harms on people's lives. She mentioned that in 2020, an estimated 7% of the population were negatively affected by someone else's gambling. Ms Peacock welcomed the Government's implementation stage of the gambling White Paper but noted criticism towards it for being light-touch regarding gambling advertising in sport. She also discussed the industry's voluntary code and measures such as the 'whistle-to-whistle ban', while acknowledging ongoing issues with visibility of gambling ads during sporting events. The MP emphasised the need for a sports sponsorship code of conduct, reinforcing her call for its publication without delay to address gambling harm.

Government Response

Stuart Andrew

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for Inverclyde (Ronnie Cowan) for securing this important debate. The Government recognise the concerns about gambling advertising in sport and have committed to a root-and-branch review of gambling legislation, publishing a Gambling Act White Paper last April with a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at mitigating risks and preventing gambling-related harms. Developments in technology have led to rapid changes in the gambling landscape; however, there has not been an increase in gambling participation rates or population harm rates since 2005. Nevertheless, sponsorship by gambling firms can impact gambling behaviour, with around £45 million annually contributed across the English Football League's three leagues and a significantly higher proportion in Scottish football leagues. The industry's whistle-to-whistle ban has cut pre-9 pm betting adverts to one quarter of their previous level and reduced sports betting ads seen by children to just 0.3 per week on average. Further, gambling sponsorship is banned from content that strongly appeals to children or creates urgency to gamble since October 2022. A cross-sport code of conduct for gambling sponsorship has been agreed upon by major sports governing bodies, fulfilling a key commitment ahead of schedule and binding all domestic sports governing bodies to four core principles: socially responsible promotion, protection of children and vulnerable people, reinvestment into sport, and maintenance of sport integrity. These measures aim to ensure that where gambling sponsorship appears, it is done responsibly and fans, especially children, are better protected. The Government have taken an evidence-led approach to implement a package of reforms targeted at different levels, including advertising. New rules will ban harmful practices and give consumers more control over direct gambling marketing. Stake limits in online slot games and further strengthening restrictions on game design are also being pursued. Developing quality evidence remains a priority for the Government's statutory levy, with increased funding directed towards high-quality independent research into gambling and harms, including on advertising. If new evidence suggests that further action is needed, we will look at it again.

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