I have raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament supporting calls by the Coalition Against Gambling Ads to help end all gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship in order to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from the predatory behaviour of many gambling advertisements.
The coalition is made up of 19 organisation including Clean Up Gambling, the Royal Society for Public Health and the Gambling Health Alliance, as well as a number of community football clubs.
Most people know someone who has had their life ruined by gambling. It is heart-breaking that several hundred gambling related suicides take place in the UK every year.
More shocking is the fact that gambling companies are targeting children even though they claim they don’t. But 55,000 children are already addicted to gambling in the UK alone and reports show very high awareness of gambling companies among young people.
The more gambling adverts people are exposed to, the more favourable attitudes are towards gambling and this results in greater intentions to gamble and to gamble more frequently and to spend more money.
By ending the gambling advertising culture we have, we can prevent some of the harm and suffering caused by predentary gambling.
COPY OF MOTION:
Motion Number: S6M-01297
Lodged By: Alex Rowley
Date Lodged: 20/09/2021
Title: End Gambling Adverts to Prevent Further Harm
Motion Text:
That the Parliament is concerned by the reported weight of international research regarding the impact of gambling advertising and, in particular, the effects on children and those who have suffered from gambling disorders, including an increasing intent to gamble; expresses its deep sadness at what it understands to be an estimated 250 to 650 gambling-related suicides in the UK every year, as well as an estimated five million people who are affected by gambling-related harm, and 55,000 children who are already addicted to gambling in the UK; notes with concern reports that gambling companies have been very successful in generating awareness of gambling among 11 to 24-year-olds, with one study finding that participants in this age group knew more than seven of the 10 gambling brands listed, and that 43% of those aged 18 to 24 and 22% of those aged 11 to 17, had engaged with gambling advertising in the last month, such as owning merchandise or discussing a gambling company; acknowledges the reported findings of a review of 27 studies from across the world that found that higher exposure to gambling advertising was related to more favourable attitudes towards gambling, with greater intentions to gamble and to gamble more frequently, and to spend more money on gambling; understands that gambling advertising has a cumulative effect over time and has a role in encouraging vulnerable people to gamble when they had not intended to, or to gamble more; considers that ending gambling advertising could help prevent harm by removing a risk factor, and supports the call from the Coalition Against Gambling Ads to end all gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship in order to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from what it sees as the predatory behaviour of many gambling advertisements.
