Gambling advertising has narrow effect on gambling-related harm

Despite the common belief that holds gambling advertising responsible for the troublesome players’ behavior, reports find that the latter only has limited effect on the gambling problem among young people. This is a rather interesting finding. Indeed, in the United Kingdom, although gambling advertising has increased since the Gambling Act 2005, the regulatory system in place seems to be satisfactory. This article is intended to show that, even though gambling has a negative connotation, recent reports bring nuances to this commonly accepted idea.

The regulations on gambling advertising

In the United Kingdom, two self-regulatory entities are assigned to the drafting and the maintaining of UK Advertising Nomenclature: the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP). The Department of Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS) oversees the committees’ Gambling Reviews, and is responsible for the United Kingdom’s gambling industry’s regulation.

The CAP director Shahriar Coupal recently stated that: “We are aware that gambling can be a controversial issue which is why there are firm regulations in place to guarantee it is advertised conscientiously. While our review illustrates that our set of regulation on gambling advertisement is efficient, we are staying cautious and will take action where data proves that children or vulnerable citizens might be in jeopardy.” There are two key indicators to take into account, while evaluating gambling-related harm: problem gambling and underage participation. The latest report showed that 2007 was a period of significant increase in gambling advertising. However, since that period, the two indicators have significantly declined, and remain at their lowest levels.

Increase in gambling vs. increase of gambling problems

While gambling advertising has a definite impact on gambling, it has a relatively small impact on gambling problems per se. The CAP and BCAP take into consideration this evidence in the realm of their regulation. However, it does not present a case to encourage tighter restrictions on gambling advertising. The report stated that: “We saluted the call for ongoing caution and additional methodologically highly developed research in this crucial area and will keep on working to make sure that the UK Advertising Codes maintain the mandatory level of control to ensure that gambling advertising stays accountable.”

In his review relative to the Responsible Gambling Trust, Dr Per Binde noted that vigilance is key in terms of gambling advertising’s regulation. Indeed, Dr Binde identified the limitations of the correlation between gambling advertising and gambling problems. The review suggested that there is a need to comprehend the origins and the factors involved in gambling-related harm. The prohibition of advertising in certain media does not seem to be likely to happen in the near future, although it has been suggested. It is a rather reassuring decision for the casino and gambling industry, which is already facing its fair share of issues.