Guardian gambling ban should inspire Government action
Labour sports spokesperson Mark Wall has urged Government to progress Labour Party legislation to ban all gambling ads.
Senator Wall said:
“The move by the Guardian to ban gambling ads is hugely welcome and the right thing to do.
“In print, broadcast, on social media, people are bombarded with gambling ads nonstop. The sheer volume of these ads is having a huge impact on people vulnerable to gambling addiction. We need to tackle this through legislation like Labour’s Bill to ban the ads.
“The level of addiction and affliction in terms of problem gambling in Ireland is well documented, so there’s no time to waste to make radical change.
“The Government’s new gambling control bill will impose a ban on all gambling advertising between 5.30am and 9pm, but we need to see more ambition and go the full way. Unfortunately for those experiencing gambling addition, this does not go away after 9pm. From the moment we get up in the morning to the moment we go to sleep at night, the gambling companies know they have us in their grip.
“The gambling industry has worked hard to create a strong link in our minds between major sports events, entertainment, even politics, and betting. Problem gambling is a behavioural addiction which is what these ads feed off of. These ads are pushing people to gamble and there are no controls in place to protect those who are vulnerable to addiction. It’s time to following the lead of the Guardian and ban the ads.”