The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has urged the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to suspend gambling advertising from being aired during their games.
The players’ body has formally addressed the GAA on the issue and shared that the Association would become the first sporting organisation on a global scale to take such a step should the GAA decided to support the proposal.
A couple of years ago, all types of gambling sponsorship agreements were banned at the GAA at its Annual Congress. Now, the GPA revealed that it proposed some measures to be considered at the 2020 Congress that is to take place at the weekend, despite the fact that the issue is set to considered and discussed at Central Council. In any case, the players’ organisation is seeking to see all types of gambling advertising materials banned from being broadcast in the commercial breaks made during live coverage of Gaelic games.
For the time being, it remains unknown whether the GAA would manage to impose such restrictions to broadcasters on such an issue, the GPA has shared its belief that the Association would be strong enough to have an influence on the issue.
The GPA explained in a statement that gambling advertising during GAA games is considered a serious risk to the Association members’ well-being, especially when it comes to underage individuals and vulnerable people such as former gambling addicts.
Rising Popularity of Online Gambling and Wide Gambling Advertising Could Have a Detrimental Impact, GPA Says
According to the GPA, the constantly rising popularity of online gambling and the easy access to gambling services, along with wide availability of gambling advertisements around Gaelic Games, has become what the Association called “a worrying cultural issue” associated with gambling. The players’ organisation further noted that the GAA had the chance to prevent the broadcast of gambling adverts during live sports events.
The GPA insisted that the removal of the links between gambling advertising and inter-county games would tackle the risk of more vulnerable members of the Association being affected by problem gambling and its negative effect on their lives. Furthermore, the Gaelic Players Association has revealed that 89% of the members polled ahead of the Congress vote said they do not back a measure aimed at the introduction of a black card to hurling.
The GPA offers 24/7 counselling support to all members against the negative impact that gambling addiction has on players who were unable to deal with their compulsive gambling habits. That is exactly the reason why the Association wishes to see all direct links to gambling advertising and its members removed as soon as possible.
If the GAA implements the above-mentioned suggestion into a written rule, it would be the first sporting organisation on a global scale to take such a step.
- Author
Daniel Williams
