The debate about gambling advertisements on London’s public transport is in full swing again. The advertisements are particularly prominent in the Underground and on buses. But more and more people believe this must stop.
They point to the consequences of gambling, which are particularly visible in London. More people get into trouble because of gambling in London than in the rest of the United Kingdom. According to a new study by the Gambling Commission, more than five per cent of Londoners suffer from gambling-related harm. That is almost twice the national average.
Political pressure on Mayor Sadiq Khan is growing by the day
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, previously promised to ban ‘harmful gambling advertisements’ from public transport. But years later, the advertisements are still there. And not everyone is happy about that.
Criticism is coming from all sides. Labour politician Krupesh Hirani said this week that ‘London is the front line of the gambling crisis in the UK.’ According to him, entire neighbourhoods in the city are feeling the pain of gambling addiction, especially now that people are also facing high bills and uncertainty about their income.
More and more citizens believe that the mayor should keep his promise. No more advertising for gambling in places where millions of people pass by every day.
Gambling advertisements on public transport are impossible to miss
Anyone travelling by underground or bus in London cannot fail to notice them. Posters of well-known bookmakers are everywhere. They promise quick profits, high bonuses and exciting bets.
But according to many aid organisations, that is precisely the problem. They warn that young people and vulnerable people in particular are especially exposed to temptation. The idea that you can get rich quick by gambling is thus constantly reinforced.
This is despite the fact that more and more people are discovering that the outcome is often quite different. Gambling addiction usually starts small, but can lead to sky-high debts, stress and relationship problems. Programmes such as GamCare try to help people get back on track. But by then, the damage is often already done.
Aid organisations want a nationwide approach, not just in London
The discussion in London is part of a larger problem. Gambling companies invest millions in advertising every year. And it is no longer just football shirts or online banners. Bus shelters, trams and stations have also become places where they advertise.
That is why the organisation BetknowMore advocates a city-wide approach. They want London health authorities, local councils and public transport operators to work together on a single front. So that it does not remain empty promises, but real change is achieved.
Especially when you consider that half of Londoners have gambled in the past year. And almost four in ten have done so in the last four weeks. These figures come from the most recent report by the British gambling regulator.
Opponents warn: banning advertising will not solve the problem
However, there are also people who have doubts about such a ban. They say: you can remove the advertisements, but that does not address the real problem. Gambling problems often arise from stress, debt or mental health issues. And a poster ban will not help with that.
According to them, good information is just as important. Because if you only remove people from the advertising, but don’t tell them why gambling can be dangerous, little will change.
This is in line with earlier warnings from GambleAware about the growing influence of gambling advertisements on children and young people. They say that young people in particular are becoming increasingly accustomed to gambling as something “normal”.
The real question: who decides what can be displayed in the underground?
This debate is not just about gambling. It also raises the question: what can and cannot be promoted in public spaces? Today it’s gambling advertisements, tomorrow it might be fast food or something else.
TfL, London’s transport company, would like to display more “ethical” advertisements. Think of campaigns about healthy eating or exercising more. But as long as gambling companies pay handsomely for their space, the discussion will continue.