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?
They are just wasting their time, people are looking for ways to make money because things are changing fast, even those in America are complaining about their economy, you think that people need to see gambling ads before they can decide to gamble? The world have gotten past this, gambling platforms don't even need alot of advert like before.
Covid days did the biggest gambling advert ever, everyone was staying indoor and people have to find way to make money, that exposure alone was so massive than wherever have happened in the past before, there is nothing that can stop gambling or reduce it, the harder the world gets the more people want to gamble.
Another thing to look at is how people view gambling compared to other habits, like drinking or smoking, governments have tried to reduce those with bans and warnings too but people still continue because once you build a culture around something, an advert isn’t the deciding factor anymore, for many sports fans betting is already part of the excitement, so even if ads don’t show during the match, they will still place their bets before kickoff or at halftime. Also, bookmakers have many ways to reach customers outside traditional advertising, they use apps, social media, email, push notifications, influencers, even sponsorships on jerseys and stadium boards, so while tv ads might be restricted during live games, the branding and reminders are still everywhere else, which means the effect of the ban becomes very small.
If anything, these bans sometimes make gambling look more “forbidden fruit” which can spark more curiosity among new people who wonder why it’s being hidden, and in the end they go check it out themselves, so instead of reducing gambling, it might even push some people to try it in different ways. I think if the goal was really to reduce gambling rates, the focus should be more on education and awareness, showing the risks, helping people manage their money, and offering support for those addicted, because rules like a 5 minute ad ban might look good on paper but in real life gamblers already know where and how to play, they don’t need a TV ad to remind them.