Call for action on betting surge

Evangelical organisation Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is calling for the government to ‘step in and hold the betting industry to account,’ following the revelation that the number of gambling adverts featured during the Premier League season's opening weekend has tripled since last year.

A study by the University of Bristol, funded by Gamble Aware, found that the opening round of fixtures across the weekend of 17 August saw 29,000 advertisements promoting gambling across the ten matches, marking a 165% increase on the previous year. West Ham’s evening clash with Aston Villa featured 6,500 ads, which works out to about 30 every minute.

The study’s findings come following a period which has seen high-profile figures call for greater regulation of the industry. The Premier League have recently introduced a new Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements, while the government is currently reviewing gambling policies.

James Mildred, CARE’s Director of Communications and Engagement, said: ‘Problem gambling is a huge concern and research shows people who bet on sports are particularly vulnerable. For people struggling with addiction, constant exposure to gambling adverts is far from harmless.’