Northern Ireland’s All-Party Group Calls for Gambling Advertising Restrictions

The Stormont Assembly’s All-Party Group on Reducing Harm Relating to Gambling is urging the UK Government to implement stricter gambling advertising regulations in Northern Ireland.

Formed to address gambling-related harm within Northern Irish communities, the group includes representatives from Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party, the Alliance Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party.

In a letter to the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, the group highlighted Ireland’s recent Gambling Regulation Bill as a model for reform. Passed last month, the legislation introduces measures such as a ban on gambling advertising between 5:30 AM and 9:00 PM, the prohibition of inducements, and the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, set to be operational by mid-2025.

The letter emphasized that similar restrictions could benefit “Northern Ireland, Britain, and Ireland, where British TV is widely watched.” It also noted that Northern Ireland remains the only jurisdiction in these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet.

Research Highlights Youth Exposure

The letter cited a recent cross-border study by Maynooth University in County Kildare and Ulster University. The research revealed significant exposure of young people to gambling marketing, particularly through televised sports programs and social media.

Urgent Appeal to UK Government

Acknowledging that “our Executive does not have sufficient legislative time in the current Assembly mandate to take forward a Gambling Bill,” the group urged Nandy to act decisively.