Paul Merson: ‘we have to look again at gambling’s relationship with football’

Paul Merson, former England and Arsenal footballer, has spoken out against the gambling industry’s heavy use of advertisements during sports games, and criticised players and managers who appear in betting ads.

He told the BBC: “If they knew a family member who was addicted, I don’t think they would do it. They don’t really understand the addiction and the compulsion and what it does to lives.”

Merson, a former gambling addict, says that gambling related advertisements during football matches affect him, causing him the need to leave the room:

“Advertising and sports sponsorships are everywhere at football matches, online, on TV and even the radio. One study found 700 ads in a single Premier League game. This could trigger someone suffering like me, and none of us want our kids to see it.”

Merson is campaigning for betting laws to be reformed and associates with the views of MPs on an all-party gambling group who support stricter regulation:

“They are arguing for an end to gambling sponsorship in football, protections so people cannot gamble more than they can afford, limits on the amount anyone can stake through online slots and a funding levy on gambling companies to pay for education, treatment and research.

“I hope we are successful and the Government changes the game. A lot of people are relying on it.”

The UK Government has promised to reform betting laws in the UK and was supposed to set out its plans for legislative change last year. A whitepaper on reform has now been delayed twice.

CARE continues to lobby the Government to act. CEO Ross Hendry warns, “the Government must recognise that lives are being ruined every day it fails to act. Our permissive laws fail to hold the betting industry to account and protect the most vulnerable.”