Shield children from ‘bombardment’ of gambling ads at football games, say MPs
More should be done to shield children from the “bombardment” of gambling ads at football stadiums, MPs have said as they argued for greater regulation of the sector.
Parliament’s cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee said that while it welcomed the voluntary withdrawal of gambling sponsorship from the front of Premier League players’ shirts, the move would not reduce the volume of betting ads present during games.
The MPs on the committee recommended that the new gambling sponsorship code of conduct should ask that sports governing bodies cut the number of ads in stadiums while also promoting a higher number of ads dedicated to responsible gambling.
The report comes just months after the government published its long-awaited gambling white paper which recommended a new statutory levy on big firms in a bid to crack down on online addiction.
Other measures include maximum stakes for online slot machines and checks to “better protect even those unable to afford small losses”.
In its report, the MPs cited a recent study which found that branding on football shirts made up just 7% of all the gambling messages that were visible during 10 matches while another study revealed that 7,000 gambling messages could be seen during six matches surveyed on the opening weekend of the season.
They said that while they backed the contents of the white paper, there was “work to do” to ensure that player protection checks were minimally intrusive and protected financial data.
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Britons ‘bombarded’ by gambling ads
The MPs also demanded that the government set out a detailed timetable for the proposals in the white paper given they were not mentioned in the King’s Speech last month.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the committee, said: “While gambling regulation should not overly impinge on the freedom to enjoy what is a problem-free pastime for the majority, more should be done to shield both children and people who have experienced problems gambling from what often seems like a bombardment of advertising branding at football and other sporting events.
“The government needs to go further than the proposals in the white paper and work with sports governing bodies on cutting the sheer volume of betting adverts people are being exposed to.”
The committee said extra online protection for young adults should be introduced through a lower stake limit and thresholds for triggering financial risk checks as well as a statutory levy to be paid by gambling operators to fund problem gambling research, prevention and treatment.
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A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “The gambling white paper outlines a balanced and proportionate package of measures, delivering greater protections for those at risk of experiencing harm, while having minimal impact on the freedoms of the large majority of punters.
“The white paper will deliver new financial risk checks, stake limits for online slots and a mandatory levy on betting firms to pay their fair share towards research, prevention and treatment of gambling addiction.
“There are already robust rules in place to ensure gambling advertising is socially responsible, and we support the work ongoing across the sport sector to develop new standards through an industry-wide code of practice.”
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Zoe Osmond, chief executive of GambleAware, said: “We know gambling marketing is almost four times more appealing to children and young people than adults, and that early exposure – seeing gambling advertising and marketing on TV or social media – can be associated with a greater risk of gambling harms later in life.
“The government’s recently published gambling white paper is a missed opportunity to strengthen regulation around gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship in sport, and to protect children.
“We are also pleased to see the committee call for a clearer timeline regarding the implementation of the statutory levy, clarity around funding in the interim period and the development of a new national strategy to reduce gambling harms to enable effective implementation of the new system.
“This will support increased collaboration between those working to help tackle gambling harms as we enter this next phase together.”
Police have appealed for information after a man was charged with murdering two women and raping a third.
Simon Levy has been charged with murdering 53-year-old Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo who died on the Aylesbury Estate, south-east London, on 17 March, the Metropolitan Police said.
In September, Levy, of Beaufoy Road, Tottenham, north London, was charged with murdering 39-year-old Sheryl Wilkins who was found unresponsive in High Road, Tottenham, on 24 August.
He is also accused of grievous bodily harm with intent, non-fatal strangulation and two counts of rape against a third woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in Haringey, north London, on 21 January, police said.
The 40-year-old will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with Ms Valencia-Trujillo’s murder.
Sheryl Wilkins was found unresponsive in High Road, Tottenham, on 24 August. Pic: Metropolitan Police
He is also due to appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday for a plea and trial preparation hearing for the murder of Ms Wilkins.
Detectives believe there may be individuals who have information relevant to this investigation – or who are yet to report incidents which have directly impacted them – and are asking for people to come forward.
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UK
Family of woman killed 56 years ago, in a case of mistaken identity, believe her remains are buried in a garden
A new “national day” to honour victims and survivors of terrorism will be added to the calendar from next year, it has been revealed.
The annual commemoration will fall on 21 August, and will be marked in a different place each year to recognise the widespread impact of terrorism around the country.
It comes after a 12-week public consultation showed 91% supported the plan for a national day, and 84% strongly supported the proposal.
Flowers left in St Ann’s Square, Manchester, to remember the Manchester Arena terror attack. Pic: PA
How the day will look, including a final name and symbol, will be worked out collaboratively between survivors and ministers, according to the Home Office.
But it will “honour and remember victims and survivors of terrorism”, encouraging survivors to access specialist support, spotlighting their stories, and educating the public.
A spokesperson for the Home Office confirmed that it would not be a bank holiday.
Jo Berry, whose father Sir Anthony Berry was killed in the IRA Brighton hotel bombing in 1984, said victims of terrorism would no longer be “a footnote of history”.
Jo Berry, whose father was killed in the Brighton bombing in 1984, with convicted bomber Patrick Magee in 2004. File pic: PA
She said: “What we remember as a nation matters. It sends a signal about what we value.
“For too long, survivors of terror attacks, and those who have been killed in them, have been a footnote of history. Survivors have felt ignored and forgotten.
“That’s why Survivors Against Terror launched a campaign for a new national day of memorial three years ago.”
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Travis Frain, who survived the Westminster Bridge attack in 2017, also backed the campaign.
He said: “A national day would provide an opportunity to remember those we have lost, to pay tribute to the bravery and resilience of those who have survived these heinous acts, and for us to look forward to the future to educate the next generation.”
The date was chosen to coincide with the UN International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
Plans have also been announced for a new support hub to help victims in the aftermath of terror attacks.
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