GPA insists on gambling ads ban

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) said that it wants a total ban on gambling ads during TV broadcasts.

Ireland.- The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) players’ body has urged a ban on gambling adverts shown during GAA match broadcasts. The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) believes that the ads must be removed to protect vulnerable people.

GPA chief executive Paul Flynn said that the association believes in the elimination of all gambling adverts during half-time of GAA games to protect the most vulnerable people. He singled out young people, who he thinks are the most vulnerable.

This call comes as part of the GPA’s attempt to follow new rules, such as the ones recently introduced in the UK. Sports betting operators voluntarily agreed to stop advertising during live sports before and during the game.

GAA’s campaign against betting

Last year, the association launched an awareness campaign called “Reduce the Odds” to protect Gaelic Games integrity. “The campaign aims to inform all members of the Association’s rules relating to gambling, highlight research identifying athletes as an at-risk group in relation to problem gambling, signpost persons in need of help to support services available in Ireland.”

When announcing the news, Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “Gambling and sport is a societal issue in the modern world. The well-being of our members and the integrity of our games is paramount to the GAA. The Association has made significant strides in recent years to preserve both. We hope that his campaign offers our clubs and members the resources necessary to continue that work at a grassroots level.”

The Gaelic Players Association is the official representative body for football and hurling county players. Founded in 1999 and officially recognised in 2010, it represents over 2,300 past and present players. “We want to invest in a better and more sustainable future for county players across our three key pillars: Representation, Welfare and Development.”