Report and recommendation
A cross-party House of Lords liaison committee has recommended that the UK introduce a sweeping ban on almost all gambling advertising, modelled on restrictions applied to tobacco. In a 173-page report published by the committee, peers said such a ban would be the "most effective" measure to reduce harms associated with gambling and protect public health.
Peers criticised the government's response to the rapid growth of digital marketing, saying ministers had been "too passive" in the face of an explosion of online adverts and social media influencers promoting gambling products. The report highlights concerns that current regulation has not kept pace with new forms of promotion that reach large and often young audiences.
Industry backlash
The recommendation prompted immediate backlash from lobbying organisations representing bookmakers and casinos, who described the proposal with strong criticism. Industry groups argue that advertising helps consumers make informed choices and that a blanket prohibition would have significant commercial consequences for operators and associated sectors.
Next steps and political context
The report does not itself change policy but sets out a high-profile challenge to ministers to tighten controls on gambling promotion. The committee's call is likely to intensify a broader debate in Westminster about the balance between public-health objectives and commercial freedoms, and about how regulators should adapt to the digital media environment. The government will now face pressure from both public-health advocates and industry representatives as it considers whether to adopt the committee's recommendations.