UK: Gambling Advertising To Remain?

In the UK the ongoing government review on gambling was feared by many operators as bringing in stricter tighter controls including advertising ban, VIP programs and even a cap on customer spending.

However as time has progressed and we still do not know the findings of the review till the autumn there seems to be less fear towards the government review and more of hope. Over the last month or so little snippets of information have come out that offers operators both online and land based more optimism, such as the possible raising or removal of the affordability checks and now it seems that advertising may also remain.

In a recent article in PolitsHome written by Betting and Gaming Council Chief Michael Dougher, the link between television and Radio advertising and increased gambling activity has been questioned, indeed in a recent parliamentary answer Government minister Baroness Barran said the “overall participation in gambling has declined over the period of Covid-19 lockdowns in Great Britain”.

Backing that up DCMS minister John Whittingdale who is actually leading the government review into gambling said on the topic of advertising and increased gambling that: “It did not establish a causal link between exposure to advertising and the development of problem gambling”.