Gambing Ads To Be Halted

The country’s biggest betting firms will remove all TV and radio advertising for games and products during the Covid-19 lockdown, amid concern over problem gamblers.

Industry body, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), said firms have voluntarily agreed to remove all their gaming product advertising for at least six weeks.

It comes a week after the Government wrote to gambling firms asking them to provide regular updates on how they are tackling problem gambling during the lockdown. It also follows a survey revealing that people who gamble regularly online are doing so just as often or more frequently during the lockdown, despite the lack of sporting fixtures.

The BGC said existing TV and radio advertising slots will be replaced by safer gambling messages, donated to charities or removed from broadcast where contracts allow. BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said:

"From day one of this crisis, we have sought to protect customers potentially at risk, including announcing stepping up safer gambling measures as part of our 10 pledges for Covid-19 in March.

This latest move by the regulated industry further underlines our commitment to safer betting and gaming, with many people cut off and feeling anxious.

We are determined to do everything we can to protect customers potentially at risk during this lockdown period and beyond - and we are determined to drive the high standards that the public expect from us. I hope others follow our lead.”