UPDATE: Five London councils have urgently called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to ban gambling advertisements on the London Underground as part of a growing campaign by the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA). This initiative seeks to protect vulnerable communities from the pervasive influence of gambling marketing in public transport spaces.
The councils—Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Hackney, and Lewisham—join Haringey, which made similar calls earlier this year. Despite restrictions on gambling ads in certain council areas, the challenge remains on privately owned platforms like billboards and, crucially, public transport services.
Current government statistics reveal that 2.7% of adults in the UK, equivalent to 1.4 million people, grapple with gambling problems. Alarming estimates from the Department of Health and Social Care indicate that between 117 and 496 suicides annually in England are linked to gambling. The gambling industry, a multibillion-pound sector, spends approximately £2 billion yearly on advertising alone.
The call for action has gained substantial public support, with a recent CEGA poll showing that 70% of British adults favor restricting or banning gambling ads. Moreover, 68% believe children should never be exposed to such advertisements.
Will Prochaska, CEGA’s director, emphasized the critical nature of this coalition’s efforts: “Councils are standing up for their communities and sending a clear message: it’s time to stop allowing companies to profit from promoting harmful products. We urge others to follow their lead.”
Local leaders echo this sentiment. Councillor Chris Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care at Hackney Council, stated: “Gambling-related harm is well documented but not well recognized. This is why our advertising policy clearly states that we will not support material promoting gambling products. We are delighted to join this partnership with CEGA and fellow local authorities.”
In response, a spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) reiterated that all advertisements must comply with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code, which includes specific regulations on gambling campaigns. They also noted that the Greater London Authority’s public health unit commissioned an independent review to better understand the implications of harmful gambling advertising.
As this urgent campaign unfolds, the focus is now on whether Mayor Khan will take decisive action against gambling ads on the Underground. The ramifications of this decision could significantly affect public health and community well-being across London.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
