“Comprehensive ban” on gambling advertising recommended by new Lords report

A House of Lords committee has urged the Government to introduce a comprehensive ban on gambling advertising, arguing that stronger action is needed to tackle gambling-related harm across Great Britain. The recommendation is set out in a new follow-up report published by the House of Lords Liaison Committee on 17 September 2026.

The report, Gambling Harm – Time for Action: Follow-up Report, revisits recommendations made by the former Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry in 2020 and concludes that gambling harm remains a significant public health issue. The committee argues that a comprehensive advertising ban would be the most effective policy measure to support the Government’s aim of reducing gambling-related harm.

According to the report, between one million and 1.5 million adults in Great Britain experience levels of gambling that may be described as problem gambling. The committee highlighted a range of associated harms, including financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns, reduced spending on essential items and, in severe cases, mental ill health and suicide.

The report notes that gambling advertising expanded significantly following the Gambling Act 2005, which liberalised advertising rules. Prior to the legislation, only a limited number of gambling products could be advertised on television and radio. The committee said industry spending on advertising now exceeds £1 billion annually.

Peers argued that Great Britain now has a substantial evidence base linking gambling advertising to gambling-related harm, yet has fallen behind several international jurisdictions that have introduced tougher restrictions. The report also points to growing public concern about the volume and visibility of gambling advertising.

While acknowledging concerns about the growth of the illegal gambling market, the committee said it was unconvinced by claims that tighter restrictions on licensed operators would drive significant numbers of customers towards unregulated providers. It argued that concerns over illegal gambling should not prevent action to address harms associated with the regulated sector.

The committee also outlined potential economic benefits from reducing gambling participation, suggesting that lower levels of problem gambling could reduce wider social and economic costs while redirecting consumer spending into other areas of the economy.

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Senior Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Liaison Committee, said the review was necessary given the significant changes in the gambling advertising landscape since the original 2020 inquiry. He said the former committee’s recommendations had been “largely unaddressed” and required renewed consideration.

The report also criticises governments for being too slow to respond to the rapid growth of digital advertising and newer marketing techniques, including content marketing that can blur the distinction between advertising and editorial content and appeal to younger audiences.

Alongside its call for a comprehensive ban, the committee has proposed a series of additional regulatory measures that could be implemented either as part of a transition period or if the Government chooses not to adopt the recommendation in full. It also reiterated a previous recommendation that on-course advertising for betting on horse racing and greyhound racing should be exempt from any ban, while suggesting the Government assess whether lottery advertising should be included.

The report follows earlier reforms in gambling policy, including the Government’s 2023 Gambling White Paper and the introduction of a statutory gambling levy to support research, prevention and treatment. However, the committee concludes that further action is urgently needed if gambling-related harm is to be reduced effectively.