GVC calls for a gambling ads ban extension

As gambling ads will be banned from football match broadcasts, GVC Holdings CEO urged the government to include other sports as well.

UK.- As new gambling advertising regulations were approved in the UK, the segment will have to adjust its plans. However, GVC Holdings CEO Kenny Alexander wants the gambling ads ban to be even larger.

The top executive at the parent company of Ladbrokes Coral said the ban should cover all sports but horse racing. Currently, they only involve football matches before 9pm.

“I saw first-hand the damage that problem gambling can do when I visited a rehabilitation centre,” Mr Alexander said. “It can be destructive and can often leave problem gamblers with little hope. Whilst this is the minority of those that gamble, it has a real impact on them and their family and friends. This is something we need to tackle head-on ––not tinkering around the edges – to minimise the impact gambling-related harm can cause.”

GVC’s CEO also announced it will terminate all its football shirt sponsorship deals with UK teams. He even called on competitors to take the same action.

New regulations

Gambling advertising worries regulators worldwide, which is why the UK set new rules as of this April 1. The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has set new guidelines to restrict the industry’s promotions in order to protect problem gamblers.

Advertising regulators CAP and BCAP rolled out their new standards, which ban online adverts for gambling products. Furthermore, they restrict services linked to consumer online interests and browsing behaviour data that may be targeted towards the unprotected.

“From Q2, CAP will focus on protections for problem gamblers, people at risk of problem gambling and others who might be vulnerable to problem gambling behaviours,” ASA CEO told Tracey Crouch, former Minister for Sport Tourism and Heritage in a letter.

There are plans to “extensively list unacceptable types of content,” to protect minors. According to the ASA, they include certain characters, both animated or from movies, and some celebrities from sports or the TV.