The UK is slowly getting back to normal one step at a time and UK punters are eager to get back to betting on their favorite sports – with the Premier League being the biggest attraction. Brits are known for placing heavy bets on a regular basis on their favourite football teams but have been deprived of both football action and the opportunity to bet on their teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While punters are eager to get back to wagering, betting operators are also eager to start offering betting spreads again. British bookmakers have taken a massive hit in revenue during the last few months and will look to make up as much lost revenue as possible before the end of 2020.
This is why the UK National Health Service (NHS) has decided to jump the gun and send out a strong warning to betting operators in the UK. NHS Director of mental health Claire Murdoch has asked betting operators to not go crazy with their gambling advertisements as they look to promote football betting after this extended break.
Ads seen on TV
Murdoch admitted that Brits all over the country were looking forward to regular football action and the demand would give betting operators the opportunity to advertise their betting services. She said that in recent times the NHS has witnessed a significant increase in the rise of problem gamblers who have succumbed to the extensive gambling advertising campaigns of betting operators.
Gambling firms have been called upon to advertise responsibly and not use aggressive or reckless advertisements to push punters to bet more frequently and bet bigger amounts so that they can make up for lost time.
Betting and Gaming Council Hit Back
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) was quick to hit back at Claire Murdoch alleging that she was trying to use the media to cause unnecessary alarm. BGC CEO Michael Dugher pointed out that there were already stringent advertising regulations in place such as the whistle-to-whistle ban which keeps betting firms from going over the top with their advertisements.
Dugher also pointed out that the betting firms were willing to help by giving 20 percent of their advertising budgets to promote responsible gambling while pledging a combined total of £100 million to boost research on gambling education and treatment.
Murdoch has yet to accept this offer from the BGC and is not convinced over the whistle-to-whistle ban as this does not cover social media advertising or mobile app ads.
