The All-Party Group (APG) on Reducing Gambling Harm in the Northern Ireland Assembly is urging the Westminster government to take immediate action on gambling advertisements and emphasizing the necessity for comprehensive regulatory reform.
APG Chair Philip McGuigan MLA recently praised the Gambling Reform Act introduced in the Republic of Ireland, stating, "This is the first comprehensive reform of gambling laws in the south of Ireland in nearly 70 years.
"These changes include specifying the times gambling ads can be broadcast on television and radio, from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM, and effectively banning gambling-related social media content, which will protect those at risk of gambling harm. The legislation also specifically prohibits gambling advertisements that might appeal to children."
Vice Chair Robbie Butler MLA added, "Since the advent of the internet, Northern Ireland has been the only jurisdiction on these islands that has not updated its gambling legislation.
"Unfortunately, the Northern Ireland Executive does not have sufficient legislative time in the Assembly to advance a gambling bill. However, the Westminster government can now take steps to protect the public in Northern Ireland and elsewhere from gambling harm.
"Under current law, the government has the authority to impose restrictions on gambling advertisements in the UK similar to those in Ireland. This would prevent our children from being bombarded with gambling marketing during sports broadcasts and protect those who have already suffered from gambling harm from being targeted by gambling companies on social media."
The new legislation in the Republic of Ireland provides strong safeguards, authorizing gambling regulatory bodies to control the timing, location, and frequency of advertisements.
Crucially, the law also prohibits advertisements that might attract children and bans branding or merchandise targeting young people.
This regulatory measure is supported by academic research, with a cross-border study by Maynooth University and Ulster University showing that young people are highly exposed to gambling marketing through sports programs and social media.
Additionally, research from the University of Bristol found that the number of betting advertisements tripled during the opening weekend of the Premier League.
