Premier League clubs to ban gambling ads on the front of football shirts

Clubs in the English Premier League are set to ban gambling adverts on the front of football strips, after sustained pressure from campaigners.

Proposals publicised this week would see clubs end prominent betting logos on shirts, but still allow smaller ones on shirt sleeves.

According to The Times, the move is intended to avoid an all-out ban on gambling advertising, which would significantly hit revenue.

Tony Bloom, chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion, who made a fortune from sports betting, backed a ban. Speaking last year, he said:

“From a personal point of view, it’s really important to be aware of children seeing gambling or betting advertising on the shirt in particular, because they buy shirts."

“Although there is gambling advertising all around, I just think on the shirts it’s the most obvious, so that would give me the most concern".

The UK Government is expected to publish a long-delayed white paper on gambling reform next month, touching on various areas.

CARE is spearheading calls for various reforms, which are severely dated. The last major overhaul of legislation was in 2005.

James Mildred, Director of Comms and Engagement at CARE, has said:

"Regulation of big betting in our country is totally unfit for purpose. British punters are being preyed upon by a predatory industry that is callous to their suffering, and the suffering of those they love.

“We know betting is responsible for one suicide every single day. We are also witnessing endemic health and financial harms. Yet companies continue to bombard the most vulnerable with ads, infect sport, and rake in record profits.

"Gambling's impact in society is one of the major moral crises of our time, and something the government must act on. Campaigners and grieving families demand action now to make big betting accountable and put the vulnerable first.

"We call on Ministers to publish the long-awaited whitepaper, and for this to include a range of robust measures. CARE supports a statutory levy to fund gambling treatment, restrictions on ads, and other moves to protect children.

“Any reforms must also ensure we have a Gambling Commission with real teeth that continue to hold gambling firms’ feet to the fire.”