Gambling Firms Spent Nearly £5m on TfL Advertising Despite London Mayor's Ban Pledge
Since London Mayor Sadiq Khan pledged in 2021 to extend Transport for London's (TfL) ban on gambling adverts to include online gambling, gambling firms have run more than 500 ad campaigns across the TfL network at a cost of about £4.6 million.
Overall, TfL spending with gambling companies under Khan's three terms exceeds £7.5 million, covering services including the underground, overground, DLR, Elizabeth line, trams, and Victoria coach station.
This year saw a notable increase, with 223 gambling ad campaigns on TfL networks, more than double the number from the previous year. A campaign promoting the online casino 888 was withdrawn following criticism regarding its tone.
Progress on implementing the ban has stalled, largely because of a lack of central government guidance on the links between gambling advertising and harm. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) regularly collects evidence but currently has no active project to investigate the connections between gambling ads and harm.
As a result, Khan's pledge remains in limbo, despite calls from seven London councils urging him to push ahead with the ban.
Estimates of UK gambling advertising spend vary, with one estimating about £2 billion per year, while the Betting and Gaming Council suggests around £1 billion.
A spokesperson for Khan stated that the government is examining how to address harmful gambling and will act once its review is complete.
