Taking a gamble

Sports’ betting is the most popular of casual betting internationally. It would only take you a quick google to see all the teams and sports around the globe whose advertising is plastered with betting companies. Another quick search and you’d find countless pages on the dangers and issues associated with the habit.

F1 banned all forms of tobacco advertising in 2006 but sporting responsibility and morality in general seems to fall by the wayside in the face of money. Hence, I feel it may be time for other routes to take a little more action.

A step was talked about in English football, when sports minister Nigel Adams discussed how football has too much dependency on money from betting companies. They want to review the Gambling Act, the legislation that governs the relationship between football and gambling amongst other things.

During the course of January, the English Football Association (FA) sold exclusive streaming rights to seven- third round FA Cup ties to betting firms via a third party and customers were able to access these games with a monetary deposit all at a time when there has been a big drive to deal with mental health issues.

According to a report by the BBC, half of all Premier League clubs have betting firms as shirt sponsors, with the figure rising to 15 in the Championship.

There was a voluntary ban on “whistle-to-whistle” advertising, meaning that no betting companies could advertise during live sport but there is a greater and greater feeling that these measures simply do not go far enough. 

Toronto Wolfpack and New Zealand star, Sonny Bill Williams reached an agreement with Super League sponsors, Betfred, to cover their logo on his shirt. Williams converted to Islam in 2009 and his religious beliefs were the main reason for the allowance in the uniform modification.

The modification shouldn’t be the only one allowed and the praise that Betfred received was not justified in my opinion. There should be much stricter guidelines on a number of replica shirts and merchandise.

If a child was wearing a t-shirt that advertised pretty much any other age restricted activity, there would be outrage, yet we seem to accept it if it’s sports related.

Minors are not allowed to smoke, drink or gamble due to the addictive nature and negative health effects, so why is it okay for their sporting heroes to be running around flaunting exactly those negative behaviours.

According to research in the UK in 2007, 12 per cent of 11 to 15 year olds surveyed said they had gambled in the last week and whilst that isn’t a particularly high percentage really it should be at zero.

 For me, there is a dangerous relationship between gambling and sport and if it were up to me, I would impose a complete blanket ban.

This year the Football League agreed to put an asterisk by every player’s name to promote awareness of mental health yet the leagues themselves are sponsored by SkyBet. I hope to see improvements in this area soon and there are a couple of encouraging signs.

However, in the face of the money available, I’m not sure we will see a total ban. I certainly wouldn’t bet on it.