Lords demand tobacco-style ban on all gambling advertising, warning up to 1.5 million adults are problem gamblers

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

A cross-party House of Lords liaison committee has called for a blanket prohibition on gambling advertising, marketing and sport sponsorship. Its 173-page report argues that the digital age has left existing regulations behind. UK customers lost £12.6bn to bookmakers, casinos and slot machine venues last year, and an estimated 68,000 children are believed to have a gambling problem. Lord Foster of Bath said the ban was intended to shrink the gambling sector, adding that "far too many people are committing suicide because of gambling." Prime Minister Andy Burnham is among those being pressed to take action.

The recommendation marks a considerable hardening of stance from a 2020 Lords inquiry that fell short of backing an outright advertising ban.

The Betting & Gaming Council, whose CEO is Grainne Hurst, dismissed the report as "deeply misguided," arguing it would drive gamblers toward the illegal market.

Modelling cited by the Lords puts the cost of the ban at £812m to gambling companies and £134m to the wider UK economy.