Tube Gambling Ads Ban Delay Sparks Criticism in London

London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, is reportedly facing criticism after an unfulfilled promise regarding a ban of gambling ads from the city’s Tube. The criticism comes some four years after his 2021 re-election manifesto suggested a ban on gambling and betting ads from London’s subway network.

Mayor Accused of “Backtracking” TfF’s Gambling Ads Ban

At the time the manifesto was released, Khan acknowledged the negative impact of gambling and betting. London’s mayor highlighted that problem gambling destroys not only the lives of individuals but entire families. Yet, four years later, Khan is yet to take decisive action and was reportedly accused of “backtracking” on his promise to ban gambling ads.

As announced by The Standard, Caroline Russell, one of the members of the London Assembly, recently submitted a list of written questions to Khan, asking, among other issues, when the gambling ads would be removed from the city’s transportation network. She questioned when an “ethical advertising policy” would be implemented for Transport for London (TfL) or rather, the mayor is waiting for public outcry and media scrutiny to remove the gambling ads.

Russell acknowledged she had heard testimony by people affected by gambling harm and said she doesn’t understand why Khan is asking for more evidence prior to announcing a ban on such advertisements. London’s mayor explained that he needed “more detail about the Government’s plans in this area,” before implementing changes to TfL’s policies.

Russell pointed to the importance of addressing gambling harm and providing much-needed support to London residents. However, she added: “Instead, they are faced with adverts that normalize and glamourize gambling as they travel on the transport network.” Russel elaborated further: “In 2021, the mayor’s manifesto promised to bring forward plans to ban gambling adverts on the TfL network, and now it looks like he’s backtracking.”

Reducing Gambling Harm Remains a Priority

Combatting gambling-related harm was part of the Labour Party’s manifesto ahead of the general election last year. However, the party didn’t go into much detail but rather reaffirmed its dedication to decreasing gambling-related harm.

Changes to the gambling industry followed after late last year, a statutory levy was announced. Ultimately, the levy sought to dedicate more funds for research and treatment of gambling harm. With that in mind, more changes are not unexpected, considering the growing popularity of betting and ease of access to gambling online.

While the sector remains vital for the country, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating economic stimulus, for years, anti-gambling advocates supported the idea of tougher rules as a way to fight gambling addiction and harm. Still, many fear a potential withdrawal from the legal sector if draconian rules are enforced, something that is already seen in other markets across Europe.