The Remote Gambling Association has admitted that the igaming industry in the UK needs to address concerns from politicians and the public about the proliferation of gambling advertising, its effect on the population and that it was already in discussions with the government and regulators over how best to address those issues.
The RGA’s comments come after sustained media pressure about fixed odds betting terminals this year and recent articles in the UK press about TV adverts for betting sites during sporting events.
Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the RGA, said that “although we might query whether their objections are well-founded, there is little doubt that there is public and political concern about an apparent proliferation of gambling (advertising)”.
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With critics drawing parallels between gambling advertising and that for alcohol and tobacco, Hawkswood said: “It’s clearly not a helpful or necessarily fair comparison, but irrespective of what we might feel, the truth is that many politicians and members of the public do think of gambling in that way. It would be dangerous for us not to accept that. The lesson we have to learn from this is that we must address not just the reality of the situation, but also the perceptions that exist.”
Hawkswood added that the RGA was already discussing possible improvements to the current set up with the government as “part of a wider review that also involves both the gambling and advertising regulators” and that it would “be wrong to oppose automatically any changes” just for the sake of it.
The wider gambling industry “needs to keep finding ways to demonstrate proactively that it accepts it has a responsibility towards its customers and is fully committed to acting in a socially responsible manner. If it fails to do that then it will always be an easy target”, he said.
The government intends to report back on its advertising review before the Christmas recess.
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