Chris Evans, MP for Caerphilly, has called in Parliament for tighter restrictions on gambling advertisements. Mr Evans expressed concerns that children and young people are being constantly exposed to the ads through TV, streaming services, newspapers, as well as on football strips and racing liveries.
The Gambling Commission has rules designed to prevent companies from advertising gambling to children directly. Companies are not allowed to try to appeal specifically to children, or to portray younger people in their ads.
But children and young people are still regularly exposed to the same advertising as adults. GambleAware reported in 2020 that only four per cent of 11- to 24-year-olds said they had not been exposed to gambling ads in the last month.
The Government has announced that it will introduce a statutory levy on gambling operators, designed to ensure they pay into NHS services for addicts and research into the types of harm caused. The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots. These will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds.
Mr Evans, who delivered a speech to MPs in Westminster Hall, said:
‘Our young people see advertising for gambling on TV, online, and on the shirts of their favourite players. This normalises betting, making it a ‘game’ or a standard part of enjoying professional sport.
‘The new rules being introduced must be the first steps in a wider reform of how we approach gambling advertising, and how we protect our young people from exposure.’
