UK’s Gambling Big Guns Hold Talks Over Advertising Crackdown

by Glenn Baird - November 20, 2018

The biggest names in the UK gambling industry met today to discuss measures that are being considered to curb the airtime that their advertisements can receive.

The proposed measures seek to ban all pre-watershed advertising on TV; to reduce the number of advertising advertisements to 1 per break; and a complete ban on in-play advertising during live sport.

The RGA, the Remote Gambling Association, which includes the likes of PaddyPower, William Hill and Ladbrokes, met today over fears that the measures being introduced could have serious implications for the profits of its members.

However, not all members are opposed to certain restrictions, with GVC, who own Ladbrokes, saying just last month that it would support any moves to remove pre-watershed advertising during live football matches.

Some members would like to see measures agreed on by the RGA to limit gambling advertising in an attempt to address what has become a very negative climate for gambling operators over the last few months.

The debacle with fixed odds betting machines has not helped the reputation of operators, who were already facing negative press on an almost daily basis in the UK.

The new Chief Executive of The Senet Group, an independent watchdog and standards association within the industry, Sarah Hanratty welcomed the RGA’s decision to meet and try to address the growing negative perception of the gambling industry within the UK in the following statement:

“The gambling industry is taking decisive steps to take its responsibilities seriously and address the unease that many feel at the volume and density of gambling advertising, and its potential impact on young people. We encourage the industry, broadcasters and government to bring this to a speedy resolution.”