Anne Main has tabled a motion in parliament to ban betting adverts before the 9pm watershed. The motion, which can be signed by other MPs, calls for the government to recognise the harm gambling adverts can cause to young and vulnerable people and highlights that betting adverts are played all through the day during live sports events watched by children.

The St Albans MP said, ‘I have been astonished over the last few years at the sheer number of betting adverts that surround live sporting events. The many promotions that are offered can normalise gambling to viewers and we must emphasise the many risks that are involved with gambling.’

Mrs Main set down the motion last week and has been promoting the cause amongst fellow MPs. ‘I hope we can get a good number of signatures to show how seriously MPs take this issue and hopefully the government will listen’, Anne said.

‘The real concern for me is the amount of young people that watch these adverts’, said Mrs Main. ‘Children of all ages watch big sports matches at the weekend and gambling adverts are shown endlessly during the coverage. Not only that, many teams and even tournaments and leagues are sponsored by betting companies. I fear this will normalise regular sports gambling and there could be serious implications for many people in later years.’

Anne continued, ‘My motion calls for a ban on all gambling adverts before the 9pm watershed. I think that is reasonable and fair and I hope we can get significant interest in this issue to get the government to look again at making this important change.’

The text of the motion reads; ‘That this House is concerned about the level of problem gambling in the UK; believes that the level of gambling advertising on television is unacceptable and needs to be addressed; notes that gambling advertising is permitted during televised sporting events during the day when many children may be watching; and urges the Government to introduce measures to end all televised gambling advertising before 9pm.’

Early Day Motion