Somerset Council is supporting a national campaign calling for an end to gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, highlighting the need to protect children and young people from its influence.
Councillor Evie Potts-Jones and the Council’s Director of Public Health, Alison Bell, have signed the ‘Protect young fans’ petition, which calls on the Government to remove gambling advertising and sponsorship from the sport.
The Council is a member of the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA), which is asking organisations and individuals to support the campaign. According to the coalition’s appeal, the petition had already attracted more than 27,000 signatures.
The campaign highlights how gambling promotions have become embedded in football, appearing on players’ shirts, pitch-side advertising boards and stadium branding. It argues that children should be able to follow their favourite teams without repeated exposure to betting promotions.
For Somerset Council, supporting the campaign forms part of its public health commitment to reducing gambling harms and preventing problems before they develop.
Gambling harms can extend beyond financial losses, affecting mental wellbeing, relationships, employment and family life. The consequences can also be felt by partners, children and others close to the person gambling.
Reducing exposure to advertising is about addressing the environment in which those harms can develop, alongside ensuring people can access support when they need it.
Councillor Evie Potts-Jones, Lead Member for Public Health at Somerset Council, said:
Football is a huge part of life for many families in Somerset. Children grow up following their teams, admiring players and sharing the excitement of a match with friends and relatives. Gambling advertising should not have to be part of that experience.
When betting brands appear repeatedly on shirts, around pitches and across football coverage, there is a risk that gambling comes to be seen as an ordinary or expected part of enjoying the sport.
Gambling harms can reach far beyond the person placing a bet. Families can face financial pressure, relationships can suffer, and children can be affected by what is happening at home as a result of this.
As a Council, we want to help prevent those harms. Supporting this campaign is one way we can stand up for young fans and call for a healthier environment in which they can enjoy the game.
I would encourage anyone who shares these concerns to read the petition and consider adding their support.
CEGA is calling for an end to all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football. Its campaign asks supporters to put the interests of young fans first and challenges the association between enjoying football and placing a bet.
Somerset Council is encouraging residents to find out more about the campaign and share the petition with others who may wish to support it.
Read and sign the petition below:
Protect young fans: let’s kick gambling ads out of football
