Calls are growing to ban gambling ads on the tube network as London’s gambling harm rate is almost double national average, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Ministers are facing fresh calls to agree on a formal definition of harmful gambling so City Hall can impose a ban on betting adverts on public transport.

Sir Sadiq Khan has previously promised to ensure Transport for London (TfL) prohibits the promotion of casinos and gambling websites across the tube network. However, until the government draws up a definition, any City Hall policies could be subject to legal challenge.

Last week London Assembly member Krupesh Hirani, the Labour group’s health spokesman, set up a London-wide action group to tackle gambling harms across the capital’s boroughs using the powers they currently have.

London’s gambling harm rate is almost double the national average, with 5.6% of Londoners affected compared to 2.9% across Great Britain.

Data from the latest Gambling Commission annual report, released on Thursday (2nd), revealed that half of Londoners have participated in gambling over the past twelve months. In the last four weeks alone, 37% of Londoners took part, though this drops to 23% when the lottery is excluded.

“London is on the frontline of the nation’s gambling crisis, and we cannot sit back while communities pay the price,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

“Levels of deprivation and the cost of living crisis, as well as the price of housing, have led to increased gambling within London. We have also heard from people who live normal lives but take part in gambling before getting addicted. People feel a rush and then go into a spiral.”

City Hall data has revealed that TfL earned almost £5million in advertisement revenue for gambling promotions between 2018 and 2023. The mayor’s office told the LDRS that he will look to “urgently consider” what action to take after a current government probe into the Gambling Act concludes.

Hirani, who represents Brent and Harrow, said: “The mayor has successfully managed to ban fast-food ads on TfL – he’s able to do that because there’s verified health guidance from government. The same advice does not exist for gambling.

“The mayor wants to ensure there is a robust enough policy which can withstand legal challenge. Our ask to government is to create that guidance that the mayor can hold up to companies who will inevitable oppose the measure.”

The roundtable, held in City Hall, gathered stakeholders including Betknowmore, a charity which helps individuals affected by gambling, NHS specialists and representatives from local authorities.

Hirani added: “The conclusion was that BetknowMore proposed setting up a London-wide action group to tackle this issue. This would be made up of local authority representatives from across the capital and could be used as a platform to share best practice about tackling issues locally through policy changes in licensing and planning.

“There are pockets and areas in all parts of London which are saturated with betting shops. It will hopefully mean local authorities can [identify things to] be done practically within their boroughs while we tackle the wider lobbying issue around gambling.”

Last month ministers announced new powers for councils in England “to say no to new betting shops” through the national Pride in Place scheme, one of the key asks from the roundtable.

Frankie Graham, founder and CEO of Betknowmore UK, said: “As a proud Londoner and individual with gambling harms lived experience, I am delighted we are moving forward with the London Gambling Harms Action Group initiative.

“My personal upbringing brought me into contact with gambling as a young boy, and by the age of 16 years old, I had already triggered what we now refer to as gambling harms. These remained part of my life for the following 20 years, impacting every part of my life, as well as those around me; family, friends, employers.”

A spokesperson for the mayor told the LDRS: “The mayor’s thoughts are with all families and individuals who have been impacted by gambling addiction. The government is looking at the best way to address harmful gambling, including understanding the impact of advertising.

“Sadiq will urgently consider what action he can take as soon as that review is complete.”

A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson told the LDRS: “The government does not currently have plans to legislate for restrictions to gambling advertising.

“However we recognise that more work needs to be done to ensure that gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to further raise standards and are working closely with the Advertising Standards Authority on this.”

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