- Joined
- Mar 31, 2005
A woman from Merton, London, is leading a campaign to ban gambling advertisements nationwide after her husband accumulated £85,000 ($104,621) in gambling-related debt.
Tracy O’Shaughnessy has partnered with Haringey Council, which recently joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), an organisation advocating for stricter regulations on gambling promotions to protect vulnerable individuals.
Haringey Council’s involvement with CEGA highlights the growing concern over gambling-related harm in the borough, where over 8,000 individuals have been directly affected, impacting an additional 25,000 people in their immediate circles. The council's commitment to the cause aims to put pressure on the Labour government to enact a nationwide ban on gambling advertisements.
During a parliamentary debate in October 2024, Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, acknowledged the government’s commitment to balancing recreational gambling with robust protections against problem gambling.
However, CEGA’s director, Will Prochaska, criticised this stance, arguing that it is impossible to expand the gambling industry while effectively safeguarding people from harm. “We urgently need Lisa Nandy to grasp this principle,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport emphasised that the gambling industry must continue raising its standards to ensure advertising does not contribute to harm, adding that this will be closely monitored.
Haringey Council reports that it spends over £8 million ($9.8 million) annually on costs associated with gambling harm, including expenses related to homelessness, adult social care, unpaid rent, and healthcare. Prochaska pointed out that while councils lack the authority to regulate the gambling industry directly, they hold significant influence in shaping national policy. “It’s important now that more councils follow Haringey’s lead,” he urged.
Since the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005, gambling advertisements in the UK have “increased substantially,” according to the government. A December 2023 report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport highlighted an “urgent need to better understand the effects of gambling advertising on the risk of harm.”
The Betting and Gaming Council, representing 90% of the UK’s gambling industry, mandates that its members comply with the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, last updated in September 2023.
The Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto includes a promise to “reduce gambling-related harm” across the UK. On page 103 of its Change document, the party outlines plans to reform gambling regulations and strengthen protections, while continuing to collaborate with the industry to promote responsible gambling.
As Haringey Council and CEGA amplify the conversation around gambling advertisements, the Labour government’s campaign promises suggest potential support for stricter regulations in the near future.
Tracy O’Shaughnessy has partnered with Haringey Council, which recently joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), an organisation advocating for stricter regulations on gambling promotions to protect vulnerable individuals.
Haringey Council’s involvement with CEGA highlights the growing concern over gambling-related harm in the borough, where over 8,000 individuals have been directly affected, impacting an additional 25,000 people in their immediate circles. The council's commitment to the cause aims to put pressure on the Labour government to enact a nationwide ban on gambling advertisements.
During a parliamentary debate in October 2024, Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, acknowledged the government’s commitment to balancing recreational gambling with robust protections against problem gambling.
However, CEGA’s director, Will Prochaska, criticised this stance, arguing that it is impossible to expand the gambling industry while effectively safeguarding people from harm. “We urgently need Lisa Nandy to grasp this principle,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport emphasised that the gambling industry must continue raising its standards to ensure advertising does not contribute to harm, adding that this will be closely monitored.
Haringey Council reports that it spends over £8 million ($9.8 million) annually on costs associated with gambling harm, including expenses related to homelessness, adult social care, unpaid rent, and healthcare. Prochaska pointed out that while councils lack the authority to regulate the gambling industry directly, they hold significant influence in shaping national policy. “It’s important now that more councils follow Haringey’s lead,” he urged.
Since the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005, gambling advertisements in the UK have “increased substantially,” according to the government. A December 2023 report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport highlighted an “urgent need to better understand the effects of gambling advertising on the risk of harm.”
The Betting and Gaming Council, representing 90% of the UK’s gambling industry, mandates that its members comply with the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, last updated in September 2023.
The Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto includes a promise to “reduce gambling-related harm” across the UK. On page 103 of its Change document, the party outlines plans to reform gambling regulations and strengthen protections, while continuing to collaborate with the industry to promote responsible gambling.
As Haringey Council and CEGA amplify the conversation around gambling advertisements, the Labour government’s campaign promises suggest potential support for stricter regulations in the near future.
