Tracy O’Shaughnessy’s campaign against gambling adverts is gaining traction after her husband’s addiction led to £85,000 in debt.
Haringey Council has now joined forces with the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), calling for a national ban on such promotions.
Haringey has one of the highest numbers of gambling premises in London, ranking fourth after Brent, Enfield, and Newham.
The council estimates that 8,000 residents experience gambling-related harm, with a further 25,000 indirectly affected.
It also revealed it spends over £8 million annually on gambling-related social costs, including homelessness and unpaid rent.
“We are dealing with a predatory industry here, they are putting money over lives,” said O’Shaughnessy.
She claims her husband’s 30-year gambling addiction saw their family almost lose their home due to unpaid rent and mounting debt.
Wife calls to ban gambling ads after husband’s £85k debt https://t.co/ABl3eZkXok
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 2, 2025
The UK government has acknowledged concerns surrounding gambling adverts. Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, stated: “We are committed to strengthening protections to ensure people can continue to enjoy gambling as a pastime without the harms that can ensue from problem gambling.”
However, CEGA’s director, Will Prochaska, insists: “The evidence is clear, we can’t grow the gambling industry and protect people at the same time – we urgently need Lisa Nandy to grasp this principle.”
Gambling ads have significantly increased since the Gambling Act 2005 came into force. A report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in December 2023 highlighted an “urgent need to better understand the effects of gambling advertising on the risk of harm.”
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents 90% of the UK’s gambling industry, defends its advertising policies, stating that all ads adhere to strict regulations and include responsible gambling messages.
“The previous government stated research did not establish a causal link between exposure to advertising and the development of problem gambling,” a BGC spokesperson added.
Despite this, Haringey Council argues for stricter regulations and has called on other councils to follow suit. “Councils don’t have adequate powers to protect their citizens from the predatory gambling industry, but they do have a powerful voice nationally,” said Prochaska.
Sadiq Khan previously pledged to ban gambling ads on Transport for London services, but progress has stalled. “We all know the impact gambling can have on young, vulnerable individuals and families. The reason why it’s taking longer than we would like is because, unfortunately, there is no national guidance,” he explained.
O’Shaughnessy remains determined, stating: “People need to understand the devastation this addiction causes. Gambling adverts need to be banned.”
