Key points:
- The APG is urging Westminster to adopt stricter gambling advertising restrictions similar to recent reforms
- The new legislation includes a watershed for gambling ads and prohibits child-targeted marketing and merchandise
- Academic research highlights extensive gambling marketing exposure to young people
The Northern Ireland Assembly's All-Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling is pressing the Westminster Government to take immediate action on gambling advertising, highlighting the need for comprehensive regulatory reforms.
Speaking at a recent launch, APG Chair Philip McGuigan MLA praised the recent Gambling Reform Act in the Republic of Ireland, stating: “This is the first comprehensive reform of gambling law in the south of Ireland in almost seventy years.
“These changes, including a 5.30am to 9.00pm watershed on when gambling advertising can be broadcast on television and radio and a de facto ban on gambling-related social media content, will provide protection to those who may be at risk of gambling harm. The legislation also specifically prohibits advertising for gambling which may be attractive to children.”
Vice Chair Robbie Butler MLA added: “Northern Ireland now stands alone as the only jurisdiction on these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet.
“We know that unfortunately the Northern Ireland executive does not have sufficient legislative time in this assembly mandate to take forward a gambling bill. However, there are steps that the government at Westminster can take now to protect the public in Northern Ireland and elsewhere from gambling harms.
“The Government has the power under existing laws to introduce restrictions on gambling advertising in the UK similar to those in the Republic. This would prevent our children from being bombarded with gambling-related marketing during sports broadcasts and those already experiencing gambling harm from being targeted by gambling companies on social media.”
The new legislation in the Republic of Ireland provides robust safeguards, empowering the gambling regulator to control advertising times, locations and frequency.
Crucially, it also prohibits advertising that might appeal to children and bans branded clothing or merchandise targeted at young people.
This push for regulation is supported by academic research, with a cross-border study by Maynooth University and Ulster University revealing extremely high levels of gambling marketing exposure among young people through sports programmes and social media.
Additionally, Bristol University research found nearly a threefold increase in betting advertisements during the Premier League season's opening weekend.
