Demand increases for banning gambling advertisements on the Tube

Five London boroughsBarnet, Brent, Enfield, Hackney, and Lewishamare urging the Mayor of London to remove advertisements promoting casinos and gambling websites across the Underground network. These councils have allied with the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), an organization campaigning against the proliferation of gambling marketing that can cause serious harm.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has faced criticism for allegedly reversing his pledge to ban gambling adverts, a commitment he made in his 2021 re-election manifesto. A spokesperson for the mayor stated that the government is currently evaluating the best approach to mitigate the harm caused by gambling, including analyzing the effects of advertising, and that Sir Sadiq will decide on possible actions after the review concludes.

Research from the Gambling Commission, which oversees gambling regulation in the UK, estimates that over one million people each year experience severe negative impacts due to someone elses gambling. Young people are particularly vulnerable to these effects.

Tracy O'Shaughnessy, a south-west London resident associated with the charity GamLEARN, whose husband struggled with gambling for over three decades, shared her experience: "I know first-hand how quickly gambling harm tears through a life and a family. Seeing London councils push back against gambling advertising is crucialit acknowledges that this addiction is real, destructive, and should not be promoted publicly."

Haringey Council became the first borough to join CEGA in January 2025, advocating for a total end to gambling advertising. According to the Gambling Commission, Haringey ranks fourth in London for the number of licensed gambling establishments, trailing only Brent, Enfield, and Newham.

While more than 80 councils already limit gambling advertisements in areas under their control, they have minimal authority over private spaces such as billboards, transport networks, broadcast media, and online platforms. The gambling sector is estimated to spend approximately 2 billion annually on advertising. CEGA argues this normalizes gambling in daily life and exposes millions, including children and teenagers, to potentially harmful marketing.

Will Prochaska, CEGA Director, commented: "It is encouraging to see councils protecting public health while national authorities lag behind. Across the UK, local governments recognize gambling as a public health crisis driven by relentless marketing. By joining this coalition, these councils are taking a stand for their communities and sending a strong message that promoting harmful products for profit must stop."

Chris Kennedy, Labour councillor and Hackney Council cabinet member for health, added: "Hackney Council applies a 'health in all policies' approach to everything we do. Gambling-related harm is well documented but often overlooked, as it is highly stigmatized and affects some of our most disadvantaged residents."

Author: Sophia Brooks