Five London councils have joined the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) as the reformist body labelled gambling as a “public health crisis fuelled by relentless advertising”.
Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Hackney and Lewisham have joined the campaign to remove gambling and casino ads across Transport for London (TfL) and other spaces in the capital.
Haringey became the first council in the UK to join CEGA earlier this year.
Earlier this year, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that he intended to wait for the government to provide a “national definition of harmful gambling advertising” before making any changes to TfL policy.
Khan included a ban on gambling ads in his 2021 manifesto when he sought and successfully attained re-election to City Hall.
CEGA calls on the UK government to implement a nationwide ban on gambling advertising.
Outside of the five London councils joining the campaign, CEGA has signed up Blackpool, Bristol, Devon, East Suffolk and Southampton councils to the scheme.
CEGA was founded by Matt Zarb-Cousin of not-for-profit campaign group Clean Up Gambling in 2021 and is funded by Labour donor and campaigner Derek Webb, as per the entity’s website.
Will Prochaska, director of CEGA, said: “It’s inspiring to see councils stepping up to protect the health of their populations where national government is still wanting.
“Councils across the UK are recognising that gambling is a public health crisis fuelled by relentless advertising.
“By joining this coalition, they’re standing up for their communities and sending a clear message. It’s time to stop allowing companies to profit from promoting harmful products. We urge others to follow their lead.”
In October, a Survation poll, commissioned by CEGA with a sample size of over 2,000, found 51% of respondents believed all gambling advertising, promotion and sponsorship should be banned.
The post TfL ad ban pressure grows as five London borough councils join CEGA first appeared on EGR Intel.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s pledge to remove gambling ads from network under the spotlight as quintet join reformist lobby group
The post TfL ad ban pressure grows as five London borough councils join CEGA first appeared on EGR Intel.