LONDON: The Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which counts Britain’s biggest betting companies among its members, has agreed to stop advertisements during live sports broadcasts.
The “whistle-to-whistle” television advertising ban follows political pressure about the amount of betting advertising on TV in the UK.
The deal follows extensive talks between firms – also including SkyBet, Betfred, Betfair, Stan James, Gala Coral and William Hill – to ensure no advertisements will be broadcast for a defined period before and after a game is broadcast, BBC reports.
More than 90 minutes of advertisements were shown during the football World Cup and anti-gambling campaigners contend sport’s use of advertisements “normalises” betting.
Nearly 60% of clubs in England’s top two divisions have gambling companies as shirt sponsor, BBC further reports.
According to UK media reports, there will be a meeting next week of the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG), which will ratify the proposals.
The intention is to introduce the ban from the start of the 2019-20 season.
