The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has faced scrutiny for not fulfilling the 2021 promise to ban gambling advertisements from the Tube. These ads have become increasingly prevalent, especially on the Tube, where younger or more vulnerable demographics are exposed to them daily.

Four years ago, in his re-election manifesto, the mayor vowed to order Transport for London to prohibit advertisements for casino and sports betting websites because of the “devastating way gambling addiction can destroy lives and families.”

However, four years after the promise, gambling ads continue to bombard the public transport network. Instead, Sadiq said he would wait for the government to introduce a national framework to address the issue rather than take it to City Hall.

Seeking Answers from the Mayor

Recently, Caroline Russell, a Green member of the London Assembly, raised questions regarding the promised ban on betting ads on the Tube. She submitted a written inquiry to the mayor, inquiring when he would introduce an ethical advertising policy for TfL instead of waiting for complaints from Londoners and media uproar to prompt action against gambling ads in the transport network.

In response, Sadiq expressed his desire to learn more about the government's plans to address the issue before examining any implications for TfL’s policy. Regarding this matter, last year, the Labour Party outlined its intention to reduce the risks of residents developing gambling-related harms.

In the general election manifesto, the party stated the following regarding gambling and related matters:

“Recognising the evolution of the gambling landscape since 2005, Labour will reform gambling regulation, strengthening protections. We will continue to work with the industry on how to ensure responsible gambling.”

Facing New Pressure

Still, the mayor is again under scrutiny to fulfil his promise from 2021 and not wait for a solution from the government. A year ago, the London Assembly’s health committee released concerning data indicating that the city’s rate of problem gambling is nearly double the average seen across the rest of the country.

However, Sadiq’s health advisor, Dr Tom Coffey, informed the committee that the ban on gaming ads was postponed because City Hall could face legal action if it enacted restrictions based on its own definition of harmful gambling. Meanwhile, City Hall had allegedly also asked the government and public health advocates to develop a state-wide definition of problem gambling.

When the national definition is released, Dr Coffey asserts that his team will act swiftly to implement measures. He further explained that he does not wish to take action, which could result in millions in legal challenges without effectively addressing the issue.

While the officials discuss gambling ads, the TfL continues to profit from them. For instance, from April 2022 through March, the TfL raked in over £660,000 from gambling operators for displaying their ads on the trains.

In November last year, the Labour Government announced its intention to implement a statutory levy on betting operators. According to the House of Commons Library, the proposal stipulates that approximately 20% of the revenue generated by the levy will be allocated to UK Research and Innovation and the Gambling Commission to develop specialised research programmes related to gambling.

Referring back to Russell’s written question to the mayor, Sadiq expressed his satisfaction that this research would evaluate the gaps in the evidence base concerning the effects of gambling advertisements.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Russell highlighted the potential negative impacts of gambling. She shared the following:

“I’ve heard devastating testimony from people affected by gambling harm, so I don’t understand why the mayor says he needs more evidence. Londoners who struggle with gambling need support. Instead, they are faced with adverts that normalise and glamourise gambling as they travel on the transport network.”

She also expressed her discontent that in 2021, the mayor promised to take action and ban gambling ads on the Tube. However, he is now, in her words, “backtracking” from that promise.

In the meantime, a mayor's representative defended him, stating that the government has resumed its efforts to identify the most effective approach to address gambling-related harm at a national level. This is why the mayor is pleased with one of the research's objectives: to fill gaps in the evidence base, particularly those examining the impact of betting ads.

Here’s the full quote from the spokesperson:

“The mayor hopes that the new Government’s leadership on this will provide a national framework to addressing this issue, including providing a national definition of harmful gambling advertising. Once concluded, the mayor will in turn consider how he may be able to support at a regional level.”

Last year, a Betting and Gaming Council representative emphasised that the gambling industry contributes approximately £2.2 billion to the London coffers and provides around 28,000 jobs in the capital.

However, they acknowledged that gaming advertising and sponsorship must comply with strict protocols and that safer gambling messages should be continually displayed. The spokesperson also remarked that prior research did not establish a link between exposure to advertisements and the emergence of gambling-related issues.

Nevertheless, a recent survey by the NHS found that approximately 22.5 million adults in Britain place a bet, while in England, about 0.4% of adults experience some level of gambling issues.