Gambling giants axe TV and radio ads for six weeks
But locked-down punters still deluged with offers
MAJOR bookmakers have withdrawn television and radio adverts after pressure from ministers to do more to protect gamblers during the lockdown.
The Betting and Gaming Council yesterday said its members, which include bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes, would implement the change for six weeks.
But the body was criticised for failing to include online advertising, such as social media and paid searches on Google, which make up four fifths of the £1.5billion spent on ads by UK firms every year.
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston last week told the industry it was not doing enough to prevent gamblers becoming addicted while they are bored at home.
MPs and health professionals, including the British Medical Association, have raised concerns that punters are moving to more addictive products such as online slot games and losing more than they can afford.
Campaigners say vulnerable gamblers have been ‘ bombarded’ with advertising since lockdown came into force.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has been criticised for appearing in PaddyPower adverts on TV, in print and online for their games site.
Former manager Harry Redknapp is a brand ambassador for BetVictor and has fronted adverts on television, radio and social media with the slogan ‘Listen to Harry, make your best bet’.
In January Mourinho’s work for Paddy Power led Claire Murdoch, mental health director of the NHS, to say: ‘Fans look up to football stars, and it’s a grubby betrayal of trust for players and managers to use their profile and social media platforms to push gambling.’
More people are gambling on casino games online while at home because sporting events have been cancelled and high street bookmakers are closed.
The Gambling Commission, giving evidence yesterday to the Commons public accounts committee, confirmed that the most active gamblers were spending more time playing online than before the lockdown was brought in.
Carolyn Harris, chairman of the all- party parliamentary committee for gambling, said: ‘It is of no surprise that so many people have turned to gambling during this pandemic as they have been bombarded with adverts. The commission must now consider extending this advertising ban to social media and direct marketing to ensure we treat all those afflicted by this dreadful addiction.’
Dr Henrietta Bowden- Jones, of the National Problem Gambling Clinic, has demanded the industry realign its ‘moral compass’. She said: ‘This is excellent news but the biggest issue is online adverts ... and these do not appear to have been included. Why not?’
Matt Zarb- Cousin, of campaign group Clean Up Gambling, said: ‘It’s welcome online operators have acknowledged the harm advertising causes. But this voluntary ban should have also been extended to direct marketing, such as text message promotions, which have also increased.’
In the past week regulators have asked the industry to provide updates on how they are tackling addiction. Punters under lockdown are spending up to a fifth more overall on online gaming.
The commission has banned the use of credit cards for gambling online and strengthened measures to prevent recovering addicts accessing betting sites.
The Mail’s Stop The Gambling Predators campaign has highlighted the risk of addiction and the tactics used to keep customers hooked.
‘Dreadful addiction’