The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is set to ban gambling adverts on the London Underground. This pledge is part of his manifesto to become re-elected in May’s election.
London’s Underground
At the moment, the London Underground is a one-stop-shop for all things advertising. As it is one of the most popular ways to commute around London, businesses grasp the opportunity to advertise their products and services. Adverts on the tube have been proven to work which is why it isn’t uncommon to see adverts for almost anything on your morning or evening commute.
The pledge
Khan has pledged to ban all gambling advertisements on London’s underground due to the impacts of various committees and councils within the UK. In October 2020, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice and the Committee of Advertising Practice proposed that gambling advertising should be restricted to viewers under the age of eighteen. This is in light of the various pieces of research and studies that have found the risk factors when it comes to gambling and gambling adverts.
As part of his manifesto in the bid to win May’s election, the Mayor of London has proposed that gambling advertisements are to be banned alongside junk food advertising too. Kahn has noted that “I’ve already banned body-shaming advertisements and advertisements for foods high in fat, salt and sugar on the TfL network because of their impact on the health of Londoners.”
For affiliates
This isn’t the first time that government figures have announced a ban on gambling advertisements. Similar pledges have also been made by members of the Conservative Party. These political attempts are ways to promote the safety of Londoners and won’t slow down any time soon. Affiliates should stay up to date on Kahn’s pledge and the current state of gambling advertising in London.
