Gambling: Advertising

(asked on 23rd March 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to end the use of promotional offers by gambling companies that may increase gambling-related harm.


Answered by
Ian Murray Portrait
Ian Murray
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This question was answered on 30th March 2026

As part of the Gambling Commission’s licence conditions, all gambling operators in the UK must comply with advertising codes enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority independently of the government. These advertising codes contain a range of measures which are designed to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm.

The Gambling Commission have also introduced further restrictions to ensure that bonuses are constructed in a responsible way which does not encourage harmful gambling. Since January 2026, operators have been banned from cross-marketing more than one gambling product within one incentive. This measure further raises standards to ensure that advertising does not encourage excessive and harmful gambling.

We will continue to monitor the best available evidence that assesses the impact of consumer protection measures when making future policy decisions.

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