In 2019, United Kingdom implemented a whistle to whistle ban on gambling advertising. Basically no gambling ads can be shown 5 minutes and 5 minutes after a sporting event to avoid kids and or other vulnerable people to see gambling ads when watching a big sporting match. As a gambler, what would you have felt about this? Especially if you were betting on the very same sporting match? Do you think that this was effective in reducing gambling rate in the country?
If the aim of the campaign is to stop kids from getting to see the advertised gambling site in order not to expose them to it, I’ll say it is a great and commendable one by the government. It will serve its purpose for what it was issued for. As a responsible gambler, you won’t feel any negative sentiment about it because even yourself won’t want minors under your care to get exposed to gambling at a young age, which may affect their financial approach from young age.
It doesn’t also matter if my bet was on that sporting match, not displaying the advert won’t affect my games and I can always get to check back my bets anytime I want to.
This method cannot be effective to reduce gambling addiction in the country, we should not deceive ourselves that this will have long term effect to the extent it reduces the number of gamblers, no way the government can achieve that through this means.