In response, a spokesperson for UK-based GambleAware — a nonprofit group dedicated to reducing problem gambling in Britain —\u00a0 told Casino.org<\/em> it is \u201cpleased to see these new advertising standards.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe organization is concerned that gambling is becoming the norm for children, partly due to \u201cthe amount of \u2026 marketing to which they are unavoidably exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
An estimated 55,000 out of all 11- to 16-year-olds in Britain are classified as problem gamblers, according to the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).<\/p>\n
When asked about the British initiative and possible similar moves in the US, Elizabeth Cronan — the American Gaming Association\u2019s senior director of gaming policy — told Casino.org <\/em>that\u00a0the US industry group has made a priority of setting up \u201ca high standard for responsible marketing.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cLast year, AGA updated its Code of Conduct for responsible gaming to include new advertising provisions to ensure casino and sports betting marketing is targeted to an age-appropriate demographic with tasteful content and reasonable frequency,\u201d Cronan said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThere is increasing concern by gambling opponents that given the potential growth for American sports betting, kids soon may get exposed to ads for sports wagering that could be shown during major events, including the Super Bowl or the World Series.<\/p>\n
Will US Follow Suit?<\/h2>\n Given those potential issues, the new British rules are being praised by experts in North America. \u201cIt\u2019s a very reasonable thing to do,\u201d James Whelan — co-director of the University of Memphis’ Institute of Gambling Education and Research — told Casino.org.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nHe points out that children and adolescents make a lot of their decisions based on social norms, and gambling ads on TV or elsewhere will influence those norms.<\/strong><\/p>\nAlso, brains are not fully developed in children, and these ads can shape the urges children have, Whelan said. He noted the US-based industry has discussed responsible gaming, but so far, no unified set of regulations have been enacted for the entire sector.<\/p>\n
He believes it would be positive if the US imposed a ban — like the one in the UK — but the goal may remain elusive, because gambling is regulated in each state differently by their gaming commissions, who set their own unique regulatory guidelines.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Jeffrey L. Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors, based out of Montreal, Canada’s McGill University, told Casino.org <\/em>that such a ban is unlikely in the US because there is no single gambling oversight body, unlike in the UK or Europe.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nDerevensky said the UK is \u201cvery proactive\u201d about pushing back against gambling issues among its youth.<\/span><\/p>\nAppealing to the Easily Influenced<\/h2>\n The UK ban will prevent ads that may appeal to kids, such as animated cartoon-type characters. Ads also can remind them of video games and actors they admire, while showing that gambling is fun. Some ads may include offers of free merchandise as well.<\/p>\n
Derevensky explained the earlier someone starts to gamble, the more likely he or she will continue to and potentially exhibit problem behavior.<\/p>\n
An estimated two million American adults exhibit pathological gambling tendencies, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Another four to six million are considered problem gamblers.<\/p>\n
Other studies show some adult problem gamblers started when they were just nine or 10 years old, Derevensky said. Parents and teachers often remain unaware of children\u2019s problem gambling habits, with some kids even receiving lottery tickets as gifts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the UK, ads with gambling messages\u00a0will soon disappear on websites and video games which are popular with children or teenagers. Under the new rules announced on Wednesday, gambling ads will not be shown on select media where children or young people make up more than 25 percent of viewers or users. There will also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":98353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,13592],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
UK Bans Gambling Ads on Kid-Friendly Websites and Games<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n