Poll: Majority of UK adults favor general ban on gambling ads

Nearly two-thirds of UK adults are in favor of a total ban on gambling advertising, according to the latest YouGov data.

The study found that the vast majority of the population supported a ban on gambling advertising, with 63% adults and 53% young adults (11 to 17 years old) in favor of a complete ban.

In addition, 77% adults and 66% youth stated that they would support the television and radio gambling advertising watershed, with marketing materials only shown after 9:00 pm.

Similarly, 76% adults and 64% young people maintain a watershed on social media and online platforms.

Following calls for a ban on sports gambling sponsorship from various quarters, including the House of Lords, respondents agreed that 65% adults and 54% young people supported the ban.

Finally, 76% adults said they would support a potential gambling levy to be paid to the government to support efforts to reduce and prevent gambling-related harm.

Referring to the survey, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) called on the government to introduce further restrictions as part of the upcoming revision of the Gambling Act 2005.

Christina Marriott, CEO of the RSPH, said: “Given the harm that gambling can cause to individuals, families, workplaces and communities, we need to take a stronger stance against it being embedded in our social and cultural lives.

“We no longer provide airtime to other products that harm our health, such as tobacco products, and gambling should be no exception,” she added.

Responding to the survey, a spokesperson for BGC said: “Our members have implemented a ban on television betting ads before 9:00 pm during live sports, resulting in a 97% reduction in the number of such ads children see at that time.

“We have also introduced tough new rules aimed at further preventing children under the age of 18 from viewing betting ads online, and the BGC Code of Conduct, unveiled in February, aims to prevent children from seeing offers. about gambling in the official accounts of football clubs in social networks,” they added.