UK government urged to restrict children from watching gambling ads

Senior gambling industry professionals have raised concerns about the gambling advertisement watched by children. They have urged the government to act on this and ensure that the children do not get to watch these ads.

Philip Bowcock, the chief executive of William Hill, said: “Some sort of change is needed, but that has to be led by government. It’s incumbent on them to step up to the plate and have a serious discussion about it.”

He has previously said he is “sympathetic to some sort of curb or … review around the level of advertising.”

Paddy Power Betfair said this week that it was “supportive of further regulation … to reduce the volume of pre-watershed TV advertising to protect young children.”

Gambling adverts are permitted before 9 pm in the UK, as long as they are attached to live sporting events such as Premier League and World Cup football.

By contrast, Australia has banned betting commercials accompanying live sports coverage and Italy has banned them altogether.

Peter Jackson, the chief executive of Paddy Power Betfair, said he was open to tougher limits on the volume of ads but that it was “difficult for the industry to do this on its own.”

Researchers from the psychology department of the University of Warwick said 63 “live odds” adverts, which display time-limited offers, “may have encouraged viewers to gamble impulsively.”

The Advertising Standards Authority is understood to be considering whether some live odds promotions breach its code of practice.

Source: theguardian.com