Tracey Crouch: Government “need not be involved” in regulation of gambling advertising

UK sports minister Tracey Crouch has said there is no need for government to be involved in policing gambling adverts and the industry should police itself.

In a tweet at the weekend Crouch said: “If industry leaders think that there are too many advertisements then don’t commission them. Government need not be involved.”

Clumsy response from me. We always keep these things under review & have strengthened rules in latest policy update but my point is if the industry leaders themselves think there are too many ads then don't commission them. Gov need not be involved

— Dame Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) August 11, 2018

However, several respondents to the tweet pointed out that any company pulling back would see others step in in their place – a view echoed by William Hill.

Speaking exclusively to EGR, a spokesperson for Hills questioned the effectiveness of self-policing. The spokesperson said: “If we stopped all advertising tomorrow there are hundreds of websites that would step in to fill these slots so this is an area where there needs to be someone setting the rules – a voluntary move by a few operators would simply not work.”

The tweet comes amid concern about the volume of advertising of gambling companies, particularly at the recent FIFA World Cup when English viewers were subjected to over 90 minutes of gambling related advertising in over 172 ad breaks during England’s progression through the tournament.

Hills added: “At one-time broadcasters limited advertising to one betting ad per break but that has now become two and often the broadcast is sponsored by an operator as well.  Then you add in shirt sponsorship and pitch surrounds and you can understand why people, many of whom don’t gamble, feel it is too much.”

Earlier this month, the Gambling Commission widened the scope of its advertising powers to include the powers to not only punish operators who use misleading advertising, but to instead punish any operator which breaches BCAP and CAP advertising codes.

At the time UKGC CEO Neil McArthur said the aim was to “protect consumers from irresponsible advertising and misleading promotions, ensure that they can withdraw their money more easily, and will mean that firms have to deal with complaints more swiftly.”

William Hill called these new rules a “step in the right direction” but said there would be a need “for further action in due course”.

The operator added: “We want to be involved in that debate as well as Government and all the relevant stakeholders.”

“We want the rules around marketing of gambling to be sustainable for the long-term health of the industry.”

The operator recently launched a commitment that ‘Nobody be harmed by gambling’ to showcase its commitment to sustainable gambling.

The Gambling Commission told EGR: “We share concerns that gambling advertising and marketing, including sponsorship, could lead to gambling-related harm for children and other vulnerable people but the current evidence is not clear on this matter.”