Survey: Majority of UK adults back blanket ban on gambling ads
Latest poll from YouGov finds support for 9pm watershed and an end to gambling sponsorships in sport
Nearly two thirds of adults in the UK are in favour of a blanket ban on gambling advertising, according to the latest data from YouGov.
The research showed overwhelming support for curbs on gambling advertising, with 63% of adults and 53% of young people (11 to 17-year-olds) in favour of total ban.
Additionally, 77% of adults and 66% of young people said they would support a watershed ban on gambling adverts across TV and radio, with marketing material only shown after 9pm.
Similarly, 76% of adults and 64% of young people support a watershed ban across social media and online platforms.
Following calls for a ban on gambling sponsorship in sports from various circles, including the House of Lords, survey respondents agreed, with 65% of adults and 54% of young people supporting a ban.
Finally, 76% of adults said they would back a potential levy on the gambling industry to be paid to the government to support reduction and prevention measures for gambling-related harm.
Citing the survey, The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has called on the government to implement further restrictions as part of its upcoming review of the 2005 Gambling Act.
Christina Marriott, RSPH CEO, said: “Given the harm that gambling can inflict on individuals, families, workplaces and communities, we need to take a stronger stand against it being embedded into our social and cultural lives.
“We no longer allow airtime to other products which harm our health, like tobacco products and gambling should be no different,” she added.
In response to the survey, a BGC spokesperson said: “Our members introduced the whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting commercials during live sport before 9pm, which has led to a 97% reduction in the amount of such ads seen by children at that time.
“We also introduced tough new rules aimed at further preventing under-18s from viewing betting ads online, while a BGC code of conduct unveiled in February aims to prevent children from seeing gambling offers on football clubs’ official social media accounts,” they added.