As players in the Premier League continue their debate on "front-of-shirt" advertising for casinos, the UK government has already decided to review their gambling regulations, promising to bring about an agreement that will curb the number of public gambling adverts.
Technically, the UK Gambling White Paper has already been shelved four times due to infighting between Tory and Conservative factions in the parliament. With the appointment of Rishi Sunak to lead the party, a new set of regulations is currently expected in March 2023.
Debates around this topic have continued for some time, not just between political parties but also between players and the leagues representing them. Recently, David Wheeler, a midfielder for Wycombe Wanderers, wrote an article, with support from his colleagues, citing his personal concerns over the endless slew of gambling advertisements, on and off the field.
Many Premier League professionals argue that casino sponsorships pay far more than any other companies are willing to pay, especially for players that aren't on the top six teams. On the other hand, Wheeler stated in his piece that he'd happily give up some of that sponsorship money if it meant curbing gambling addictions across the country.
Currently, the UK has some of the loosest laws when it comes to online gambling, but the Gambling White Paper promises to change some of that. Measures that prevent casinos from advertising to children or at certain events are often not stringent enough, with the only reprieve being hefty fines for companies that break the rules.
The problem is that the levy is one that casino companies can pay quickly and continue advertising (for example, Betway was caught advertising on children's colouring pages on the West Ham website).
The lack of regulation has made the gambling industry in the UK one of the most successful in the world, despite the growing popularity of casinos not on gamstop1. With consumers flocking to those casinos for fewer restrictions, the UK government is losing out on that tax money as it goes abroad. Conservatives like Ian Duncan have repeatedly raised public concerns about having some of Europe's most lax gambling laws. But industry leaders like the Betting and Gaming Council argue that the majority of individuals placing bets throughout the UK do so responsibly and that the "rate of problem gambling remains low by international standards at 0.3% of the UK's adult population - down from 0.4% the year previous."
UK Gambling Minister Paul Scully has been working on the White Page for some time but wants the public to know it likely won't be the final word on gambling laws in the country. The government plans consultations with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission to create more comprehensive and structured laws that won't hurt this booming industry.
1GAMSTOP is a free tool that enables people who live in the UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) to exclude themselves from all licensed gambling websites and apps.
Written by
Andrew Delaney
Andrew Delaney
