Responding to today's Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) Select Committee report, a BGC spokesperson said: “We welcome the publication of the CMS committee report and its conclusions rejecting proposals for a blanket ban on advertising, sports sponsorships and consumer promotions, which would harm our much-loved sports such as horse racing and football , would threaten jobs and push customers into the growing unsafe black market of unregulated online gambling.
The government has previously said that research has not established a causal link between exposure to advertising and the development of problem gambling. Betting advertising and sponsorship must comply with strict guidelines and safer gambling messages, which promote safer gambling tools and help signals to those who are worried about their bets, are regularly and well visible.
BGC agrees with the Committee that the Sports Sponsorship Code, which will further raise standards, should be published without delay. The sports bodies, frankly, have dragged their feet.
We also welcome the Committee's support for many of the measures we have campaigned for, including the establishment of a new mandatory ombudsman for the regulated sector, greater controls on spending, reforms to modernize casino gambling terrestrial and a mandatory levy to help fund research, prevention and treatment for those at risk of harm.
The Committee is right to call on the Government to ensure financial checks are “minimally intrusive”, ensuring they do not unfairly impact the enjoyment of the millions of people who gamble safely and responsibly.”
