Four years after announcing he would remove gambling ads from the London underground, Mayor Sadiq Khan has yet to implement the ban.
In 2021, Khan vowed to instruct Transport for London (TfL) to ban advertisements promoting casinos and betting websites, highlighting issues regarding gambling addiction.
However, the policy is yet to be implemented, with Mayor Khan now stating he is waiting for the government to take action before proceeding.
Moreover, Khan recently told the London Assembly that he is waiting for the government to establish a framework prior to implementing the ban that bans gambling ads.
Answering an inquiry from Assembly Member Caroline Russell, he stressed the need for clarity on the government’s approach before making major city-level policy changes.
Russell, a member of the Green Party, has criticized the delay, saying that the continued presence of gambling advertisements across the TfL network puts in danger players with gambling addiction.
Additonally, Russel highlighted testimonies from individuals affected by gambling addiction and asked why the mayor was looking for further evidence before enacting the gambling ads ban.
Russel said:
They are faced with adverts that normalize and glamorize gambling as they travel on the transport network. In 2021, the mayor’s manifesto promised to bring forward plans to ban gambling adverts on the TfL network, and now it looks like he’s backtracking.
The pressing matter of gambling harm in London is very concerning; in March 2023, the London Assembly’s Health Committee reported that the rate of problem gambling in London is nearly twice the national average.
Regardless, the team of the Mayor has suggested that introducing a ban without a concrete definition of harmful gambling advertising could potentially lead to major legal challenges.
To prevent this, the city has opted to wait for a decision from the government and further research before taking definite regional action.
One member from the Betting and Gaming Council commented, defending the gambling ads:
The regulated Betting and Gaming industry generates £2.2bn ($2.84bn) for the London economy, while supporting 28,000 jobs in the capital. Betting advertising and sponsorship must comply with strict guidelines and safer gambling messaging is regularly and prominently displayed.
