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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of banning gambling adverts on television shown prior to the watershed of 9pm.

There are strict controls on the content of all gambling advertisements, including television adverts. Gambling operators who advertise in the UK must comply with the advertising codes, which aim to ensure gambling advertising does not appeal particularly to children or young people or exploit those who are vulnerable. Gambling adverts must not portray, condone or encourage gambling behaviour that is socially irresponsible or could lead to financial, social or emotional harm. The Committees for Advertising Practice recently published guidance setting out tougher standards for interpreting the rules on gambling advertising, focusing on protections for those vulnerable to problem gambling and on free bets and bonuses. Further guidance on protecting children and young people will be published later this year.

Through the Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising there is an industry-wide voluntary commitment not to advertise on television before 9pm, with the exception of lotteries, bingo and advertising around live sporting events. This code also bans free sign up offers targeted at new customers before 9pm.

We sought evidence on protections around advertising as part of the Government's Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, and outlined a package of measures in our consultation. The consultation closed in January and we will publish our response in due course.