UK gambling sponsorship ban rejected, but Andy Burnham faces pressure to intervene
Amendments to the Sports Events Bill have been rejected, but the UK’s new prime minister will receive increasing pressure from local authorities.
UK.- Another proposal to ban gambling sponsorship and adverts in British sport failed to advance this week with the rejection of proposed amendments to the Sports Events Bill. However, pressure on the issue continues to mount, with some campaigners hoping that new prime minister Andy Burnham will be receptive to calls for reform.
While the Sports Events Bill was proposed by gambling minister Baroness Twycross, the Liberal Democrat peer Baron Don Foster of Bath tabled two amendments during the House of Lords report stage. He proposed the addition of an advertising ban requiring venues covered by the bill to be free of gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship and also called for rules on data licencing that would have prevented unlicensed betting companies from using sports data.
However, Baroness Twycross asked Foster to withdraw the proposed amendments. She argued that it is “not appreciated for the government to intervene in commercial sponsorship and advertising arrangements” while noting a commitment to intervene if ads fail to comply with social responsibility standards.
As for unlicensed data sharing, she said the government did not currently view it as a significant issue but would consider it through the new Illegal Gambling Taskforce if necessary. She also offered to discuss the matter further with Lord Foster.
Growing calls for UK gambling advertising reform
It’s not the first time that Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords have tried to add gambling advertising restrictions into other legislation. Last year, Lord Addington (Dominic Hubbard) proposed amendments to the Football Governance Bill that would have included a review of advertising and sponsorship. These proposals were also rejected at the time.
However, opposition to gambling adverts is mounting at the local level. The English Devolution and Local Powers Bill has already reversed the former “Aim to Permit” rule on retail gambling licencing for land-based premises, but a growing number of authorities are now calling for action on advertising.
Last week, Liverpool City Council joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA). It’s quickly been followed by Sheffield, meaning there are now two major northern cities in the alliance. That could be influential with former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham now confirmed to become the next UK prime minister from Monday (June 20).
Burnham has previously expressed support for certain calls for gambling reforms. Writing in Politics Home this week, Will Prochaska, director of CEGA, has suggested that addressing gambling ads could offer him a “quick win” if he becomes the next Labour leader.
