29,000 gambling ads in Premier League weekend, says research

The number of betting adverts during nan opening play of nan Premier League play almost trebled compared to past year, caller investigation says.

Researchers analysed Premier League sum successful nan UK crossed TV - including pitchside hoardings and garment logos - arsenic good arsenic power and societal media.

They counted much than 29,000 gambling messages, a 165% summation connected nan opening play a twelvemonth ago.

West Ham's lucifer against Aston Villa contained adjacent to 6,500 gambling messages - astir 30 each minute.

The authors of nan study - nan University of Bristol business school, funded by a assistance from nan kindness Gamble Aware - has called nan industry's effort to self-regulate "wholly inadequate and tokenistic".

They opportunity their study shows fans and children are being put astatine consequence because they are being exposed to gambling advertising.

The Betting and Gaming Council, which represents nan gambling industry, criticised nan research, saying it "fundamentally misunderstands some advertising, and nan measurement successful which it is strictly regulated".

But Peter Shilton, England's astir capped antheral footballer and a erstwhile gambling addict, told nan BBC nan gambling manufacture is "out of power and can't modulate itself", and called for authorities action.

"Just a fewer months ago, a caller code of behaviour was published by nan industry, external to curb trading during shot events, but nan argumentation has had nary effect connected nan measurement whatsoever," said co-lead writer Dr Raffaello Rossi.

"It’s clear that nan industry's effort to self-regulate is wholly inadequate and tokenistic. Despite having had years to put successful spot effective measures to protect consumers, nan gambling manufacture continues to prioritise profit complete safety."

The Premier League is moving pinch its clubs connected nan implementation of nan Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements successful Football, which was introduced astatine nan commencement of this season.

Its clubs are required to adhere to each ineligible and regulatory requirements, via nan Gambling Commission and nan Advertising Standards Authority.

Former England goalkeeper Shilton, 75, had a gambling addiction for 45 years until seeking thief astir 10 years ago.

He says nan caller investigation "just shows [the gambling manufacture is] retired of control". He added: "They can't modulate themselves, and it doesn't look arsenic though anybody other is bothering to modulate them. It's different twelvemonth gone by erstwhile you cognize it's sewage worse.

"We managed to get a commencement pinch nan Premier League banning [sponsorship] connected nan beforehand of shirts, but that was only conscionable a mini portion of it.

"It's clip now that nan authorities measurement successful and do thing astir it because it's been going connected for truthful agelong now."

A authorities spokesperson said: "We recognise nan effect harmful gambling tin person connected individuals and their families and are perfectly committed to strengthening protections for those astatine risk.

"Ministers are presently considering nan afloat scope of gambling policy, including connected advertizing and sponsorship, and will update successful owed course."

Last year, nan Premier League clubs collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from nan beforehand of clubs’ matchday shirts, starting from nan extremity of nan 2025-26 season.

The Betting and Gaming Council responded by saying that its members "take a zero tolerance attack to betting by children" and person introduced caller property gating rules.

It adds that they perpetrate 20% of TV, power and integer advertizing to safer gambling messaging, and supply backing to nan UK's astir celebrated sports, including £40m each twelvemonth to nan English Football League.

A BGC spokesperson said: "This investigation fundamentally misunderstands some advertising, and nan measurement successful which it is strictly regulated, while making a bid of statements which are either misleading aliases incorrect.

“Betting advertizing and sponsorship must comply pinch strict guidelines and safer gambling devices and signposts to thief for those concerned astir their betting, are regularly and prominently displayed."