Sadiq Khan has been questioned for not fulfilling his 2021 election promise to ban gambling advertisements on the London Underground, with the Mayor's office stating that policy adjustments will be made after the central government establishes a national regulatory framework.
Policy Promise and Current Status:
In 2021, London Mayor Sadiq Khan explicitly promised during his re-election campaign to mandate the Transport for London (TfL) to completely prohibit casino and online gambling advertisements within the subway system, citing concerns that such advertisements exacerbate gambling addiction issues. However, four years later, this ban has not yet been implemented.
Latest Developments:
The Mayor's office explained that it is waiting for the UK government to establish a unified national control framework. Green Party member of the London Assembly, Caroline Russell, has raised questions about this, pointing out that subway gambling advertisements are still being placed.
March 2023 data shows that the incidence of problem gambling in London (1.3%) is nearly twice the national average (0.7%).
The Mayor's team believes that implementing local regulations in the absence of a nationally unified definition of "harmful gambling advertisements" could face legal challenges. Critics point out that as a global financial center, London gains an economic contribution of 2.2 billion pounds annually from regulating the gambling industry, creating 28,000 jobs, which may be a deep-seated reason for the policy's slow progress.
Industry Response:
A spokesperson for the UK Gambling Commission emphasized: "Regulated gambling industry advertisements comply with strict guidelines, and safe gambling messages must be prominently displayed." The agency's data shows that regulated gambling businesses make significant contributions to London's economy.
Experts note that this policy tug-of-war reflects the complex balance between public health demands and industrial development. As the issue of gambling addiction becomes increasingly prominent, all parties are closely watching when the central government will introduce a national solution.
