St Helens ex-gambler calls for protection for fans against 'bombardment' of betting adverts in sports
In the opening week of the Premier League season alone, fans received 11 thousand gambling messages.
Last updated 22nd Sep 2023
An ex-gambling addict from St Helens is calling for more protection for fans from a 'bombardment' of gambling adverts during the first few weeks of the Premier League.
New research, commissioned by 5 News from the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, found that people were exposed to 11 thousand gambling messages in the opening weekend alone.
Recovered gambling addict Kelly Field lost £70,000 to gambling online in 2010 and 2011, before going public with her story to raise awareness on gambling addictions, and female gambling addictions.
She warns of the dangers of normalising gambling, and is calling for the same advertising restrictions as alcohol and tobacco.
"You've got kids walking round in bigger size shirts that have Betfred or Betfair or whoever on them.
"You wouldn't have your kids walking around in a Benson and Hedges or a Marlborough football top - you just wouldn't would you?
"Or any spirit or alcohol but its fine that they can walk round in any gambling sponsorship."
She added: "The sponsorship and the advertising needs to go.
"Its a product that you have to be 18 to be able to buy and play but yet we're quite happy to have it on platforms and arenas all day everyday, targeting the young and vulnerable and triggering people that have had gambling addiction"
Kelly wants gambling adverts to be banned from being shown at sporting events and being played before the 9PM watershed on TV and Radio.