2 hours ago
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The fig of betting adverts during the opening play of the Premier League play astir trebled compared to past year, caller probe says.
Researchers analysed Premier League sum successful the UK crossed TV - including pitchside hoardings and garment logos - arsenic good arsenic vigor and societal media.
They counted much than 29,000 gambling messages, a 165% summation connected the opening play a twelvemonth ago.
West Ham's lucifer against Aston Villa contained adjacent to 6,500 gambling messages - astir 30 each minute.
The authors of the study - the University of Bristol concern school, funded by a assistance from the foundation Gamble Aware - has called the industry's effort to self-regulate "wholly inadequate and tokenistic".
They accidental their study shows fans and children are being enactment astatine hazard due to the fact that they are being exposed to gambling advertising.
The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents the gambling industry, criticised the research, saying it "fundamentally misunderstands some advertising, and the mode successful which it is strictly regulated".
But Peter Shilton, England's astir capped antheral footballer and a erstwhile gambling addict, told the BBC the gambling manufacture is "out of power and can't modulate itself", and called for authorities action.
"Just a fewer months ago, a caller code of behaviour was published by the industry, external to curb selling during shot events, but the argumentation has had nary interaction connected the measurement whatsoever," said co-lead writer Dr Raffaello Rossi.
"It’s wide that the industry's effort to self-regulate is wholly inadequate and tokenistic. Despite having had years to enactment successful spot effectual measures to support consumers, the gambling manufacture continues to prioritise nett implicit safety."
The Premier League is moving with its clubs connected the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements successful Football, which was introduced astatine the commencement of this season.
Its clubs are required to adhere to each ineligible and regulatory requirements, via the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority.
Former England goalkeeper Shilton, 75, had a gambling addiction for 45 years until seeking assistance astir 10 years ago.
He says the caller probe "just shows [the gambling manufacture is] retired of control". He added: "They can't modulate themselves, and it doesn't look arsenic though anybody other is bothering to modulate them. It's different twelvemonth gone by erstwhile you cognize it's got worse.
"We managed to get a commencement with the Premier League banning [sponsorship] connected the beforehand of shirts, but that was lone conscionable a tiny portion of it.
"It's clip present that the authorities measurement successful and bash thing astir it due to the fact that it's been going connected for truthful agelong now."
A authorities spokesperson said: "We recognise the interaction harmful gambling tin person connected individuals and their families and are perfectly committed to strengthening protections for those astatine risk.
"Ministers are presently considering the afloat scope of gambling policy, including connected advertizing and sponsorship, and volition update successful owed course."
Last year, the Premier League clubs collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the beforehand of clubs’ matchday shirts, starting from the extremity of the 2025-26 season.
The Betting and Gaming Council responded by saying that its members "take a zero tolerance attack to betting by children" and person introduced caller property gating rules.
It adds that they perpetrate 20% of TV, vigor and integer advertizing to safer gambling messaging, and supply backing to the UK's astir fashionable sports, including £40m each twelvemonth to the English Football League.
A BGC spokesperson said: "This probe fundamentally misunderstands some advertising, and the mode successful which it is strictly regulated, portion making a bid of statements which are either misleading oregon incorrect.
“Betting advertizing and sponsorship indispensable comply with strict guidelines and safer gambling tools and signposts to assistance for those acrophobic astir their betting, are regularly and prominently displayed."
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