Bradford Council Urged to Ban Gambling Adverts on Local Billboards
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Bradford Council in the United Kingdom (UK) has faced calls from some councilors to prohibit gambling advertisements from being displayed on billboards that are owned by the council. This follows the yearly report assessing the impact of gambling on the local community.
Some residents were critical of an advertisement made by bookmaking giant Paddy Power which was filmed in the local district of Saltaire last year. The critics believe the council should have refused the gambling operator permission to make the advertisement because it targeted young people.
One of the reasons councilors in Bradford put forward this idea is that the neighboring district in Sheffield has decided to restrict the promotion of certain activities, including gambling, on publicly owned billboards in the region. Some councilors in Bradford believe this strategy will have a beneficial effect on the local residents in the area.
Young people are exposed to adverts, and it really shapes their attitudes to gambling. Adolescents see it as fairly harmless, especially with celebrities endorsing it. They can’t wait until they are 18 to get on the apps – then, as soon as they do, they are directed to the online casinos. That’s where the harm is.
Annual Report on Gambling in the Region
The proposals to restrict gambling adverts came during a council meeting when a report was presented to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on the effects of gambling on the local community.
The report found that 20% of young people in the area had used slot machines in the past year and stated that more than 16,000 adults were at risk from problem gambling and related harm.
Councillors responded to the report by stating the move to reduce gambling advertisements on public billboards would create a safer environment for vulnerable individuals in the population.
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