Britain’s Remote Gambling Association (RGA), made up of betting firms including Ladbrokes and SkyBet, agreed to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts. Pressure has been growing about the amount televised and its impact normalising betting, with concerns it is contributing to the increase in problem gamblers in the country, estimated at 430,000 by the Gambling Commission. However, it is the impact on football where the ban will be felt the most, especially given the financial value of the sport to both the gambling companies and broadcasters. The RGA said that while there was no evidence of a link between gambling on sporting events and problems gambling, they were concerned about the effect such advertising could have on young people. All sports are included except for horse racing, which is heavily reliant on gambling.
Britain’s Remote Gambling Association (RGA), made up of betting firms including Ladbrokes and SkyBet, agreed to stop adverts during live sports broadcasts. Pressure has been growing about the amount televised and its impact normalising betting, with concerns it is contributing to the increase in problem gamblers in the country, estimated at 430,000 by the Gambling Commission. The RGA said that while there was no evidence of a link between gambling on sporting events and problems gambling, they were concerned about the effect such advertising could have on young people. All sports are included except for horse racing, which is heavily reliant on gambling.