New code to ban gambling ads on children football shirts
Secretary James Purnell met representatives of the industry
Following the government’s pressure campaign, members of the gambling industry have agreed to stop printing their logos on children’s replica football shirts. As a result, a new advertising code has been approved through which betting companies will remove their brands from kits for children and restrict advertising before 9pm.
The new code was the result of a meeting between Culture Secretary James Purnell and representatives of the industry. “He feels strongly that the idea of children seeing gambling adverts or being able to wear football shirts with gambling logos is wrong,” a Whitehall spokesperson said about Secretary Purnell.
Under the new law, the Secretary of Culture has wide powers to limit advertising, powers he reportedly said he would use unless betting companies voluntarily agreed to tighten the rules. Pursuant to the code, gambling adverts will also include social responsibility signposting.
In spite of the new rules, an exemption for sports-betting adverts during Premiership games and other sport events will continue existing with the agreement of the government, mainly because profits help to support minority sports.
Some of the Premiership clubs that have sponsorship contracts with gambling businesses are Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Sunderland.
Following the government’s pressure campaign, members of the gambling industry have agreed to stop printing their logos on children’s replica football shirts. As a result, a new advertising code has been approved through which betting companies will remove their brands from kits for children and restrict advertising before 9pm.