Banning gambling ads from London’s public transportation network (TfL) was a big part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s pre-electoral promises from several years ago. However, despite this, gambling companies have spent well over $6 million on ads since then.
London Mayor Still Hasn’t Put an End to Gambling Ads in TfL
Despite the mayor’s 2021 pledge to ban gambling advertisements across TfL vehicles and stations, the volume of such ads has risen. According to information obtained by the Guardian and other media organisations, since Khan’s commitment, gambling companies have launched more than 500 advertising campaigns on TfL, spending a total of GBP 4.6 million ($6.2 million). The number of campaigns rose to 223 this year, more than twice the total recorded last year, as a deadlock with Westminster over advertising policy continues.
A spokesperson for Khan stated that the government is examining how best to tackle harmful gambling, including assessing the impact of advertising, and that the mayor will consider possible action once the review is concluded. However, there is no evidence that such a review is currently underway. This seeming lack of action on the part of Khan’s office led to criticisms earlier this year as people were unhappy with the unfulfilled pre-election promise.
Why Is This Decision Being Delayed?
The UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) routinely collects evidence to guide gambling policy. However, there is reportedly no current project examining the specific relationship between advertising and harm, leaving Khan’s pledge unresolved.
Some have said that the mayor is wary that any ban could face legal challenge unless his office can rely on evidence supplied by the government. This risk was lower when Khan introduced a ban on junk food advertising, as there is a nationally agreed definition of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS), along with extensive evidence documenting their harmful effects.
Despite that, seven London councils have urged Khan to press ahead with a ban, as earlier this month, five more boroughs joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA). A CEGA spokesperson questioned whether Khan needed to wait for direction from the central government.
Nick Harvey stated that the mayor should “do the right thing and honor his 2021 pledge to end gambling ads on TfL.” He added that waiting for national guidance made little sense, noting that dozens of English councils had already banned gambling ads on their channels without facing legal challenges, and that each day of delay put more London families at risk from gambling-related harm.