The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm (APPG) has approached UK television channels, including Channel 5 and ITV, urging them to put an end to gambling operators’ sponsorship of daytime TV programmes.
In the letters sent to the local television channels, the APPG shared that its members were deeply concerned about these sponsorships and pointed out a few examples, including the soap opera “Neighbours” on Channel 5 that is currently being sponsored by Gala Bingo, a brand of the British gambling giant Entain. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm claims that gambling operators become sponsors of TV programmes that seek to promote gambling and present it as more glamorous than it actually is. According to the APPG, this strategy is aimed at targeting women and young people and pushing them to gambling.
The anti-gambling group also shared its members are worried that television companies are eagerly encouraging people to gamble, which could result in awful harm and devastation to people’s lives, families and even to entire communities.
According to the All-Party Parliamentary Group, taking some measures to tackle the negative impact that such massive gambling sponsorship could have on society, especially during coronavirus lockdowns. The APPG wants to see people protected and highlighted that underage individuals were more likely to be at home during daytime television broadcast, so seeing such gambling advertisements could harm them.
More Children to Be Exposed to Gambling Advertising during Coronavirus Lockdown, Group Says
In its letters to UK television channels, the APPG explained that not only its members, but 52 experts by experience had backed its calls, demanding urgent action.
This is not the first time when the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm asked for some action on the issue. In a report published in June last year, the Group called for the UK Government and competent authorities to suspend all gambling advertisements. Other recommendations made by the Group included a ban on online in-play betting, as well as a suspension of so-called VIP schemes that are being offered by gambling companies to high-roller customers.
In its letter to TV channels, the APPG highlighted that there are currently over half a million gambling addicts on the territory of the UK. The Group also noted that more than 55,000 children between the age of 11 and 16, who live in England and Scotland, are suffering from some kind of a gambling disorder. As mentioned above, the members of the APPG insisted on some data revealing that more underage individuals are at risk of being exposed to an increased number of gambling adverts while they are at home because of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Increased gambling advertising has been one of the hottest topics in the sector over the last few years. Campaigners have been blaming UK gambling companies for targeting more and more children and vulnerable people through their marketing campaigns not only on TV and radio channels but also on social media, exposing them to a greater risk of suffering from gambling-related harm.
- Author
Daniel Williams
