MP to demand action from SPFL

addiction charity GambleAware on the website. The website features 19 mentions of Ladbrokes on its homepage. The total includes a huge advert and link to the bookie at the top right-hand side of the page.

The SPFL has never given money to GambleAware and Cowan wi l l u rge Doncaster to meet the organisation.

Swedish academics at Lund University have found suicide rates increased 19-fold among men between the ages of 20 and 49 if they had a gambling problem and by 15 times among men and women of all ages.

In a letter to Doncaster earlier this month Cowan said: “I write to you in connection with the above subject after the admission by Hamilton Academicals head coach, Brian Rice, of his struggles with gambling.

“I am aware of the many issues sur rounding the subject gambl ing and particularly its link to football.

“Footballing bodies cannot pretend the problem isn’t fuelled by the involvement of the gambling industry in sport, through advertising and sponsorship.

“The continual drip, drip, drip of gambling adverts and relentless pursuit of football fans is leading to a gambling and mental health crisis.

“The games administrators can’t h ide f rom the i r responsibility to the fans and the part they are playing.

“This means that not only must you protect the professional set up but the health and wellbeing of young boys and girls that play football must be considered and we must avoid the normalisation of gambling.”

A SPFL spokesman said: “Neil Doncaster will meet with Ronnie Cowan MP tomorrow and looks forward to an open and productive discussion.”