The Guardian Bans All Gambling Adverts

CEO Anna Bateson made the decision to prohibit gambling advertising public and stated her worries about the prevalence of 24/7 betting applications and the possible dangers they bring.

The Guardian Bans All Gambling Adverts

The Guardian has said that it will stop running casino and sports betting advertisements as of right away.

Both print advertisements in The Guardian's publications and all online advertisements on its platforms are subject to the new rule. Except for lottery advertisements, all kinds of gambling advertising are prohibited.

CEO Anna Bateson made the decision to prohibit gambling advertising public and stated her worries about the prevalence of 24/7 betting applications and the possible dangers they bring.

Bateson drew attention to the heightened danger of gambling addiction and financial disaster brought on by high-stakes gaming devices that are accessible via cellphones.

The increase of gambling addiction, especially in the UK and Australia, and the spike in gambling activity after the relaxation of a federal gambling prohibition in the US have both been covered by The Guardian in the past.

Although Bateson agreed that many readers are ardent sports fans who occasionally gamble, the issue is more with how omnipresent retargeted digital ads are and how they encourage obsessive behaviour.

The UK government put a prohibition on gambling and betting businesses using adverts with sportsmen and reality TV stars last year in reaction to the findings by The Guardian and other news outlets as well as a fall in popular support for gambling advertisements.

Premier League teams have decided to outlaw gambling business sponsorships on team uniforms beginning in the 2026–2027 season.

The Guardian has previously declined to publish advertisements related to a certain subject. It was the first significant publication to reject oil and gas company advertising in 2020.

The publisher's dedication to doing what is right for its readers is shown in its choice to exclude gambling advertisements.

According to research, there is a direct link between exposure to gambling advertising and higher intentions to partake in frequent gambling, according to Bateson. She emphasised the evolving public perception of gambling advertisements, with polls showing majorities in the UK and Australia in favour of a ban.

Despite the fact that the UK government's proposed gambling regulations were rejected as being insufficient, according to Bateson, now is the ideal time to ban gambling advertisements across all Guardian platforms worldwide.

For the safety of underage gamblers, a £2 maximum bet was suggested in the government's white paper on gambling in April. Although the white paper represented a fundamental regulatory reorganisation in the industry, no new advertising-related actions were implemented, disappointing activists.

The Guardian's choice demonstrates its dedication to make comparable decisions for the benefit of society, as it did with advertising from oil and gas companies earlier.