Evangelicals: New Gambling Rules Reveal Government Double Standards

The Evangelical Alliance, representing more than a million evangelicals in the UK, has spoken out against the consistency of the government's stance in key issues currently being debated in the UK.

"New liberalised gambling advertising rules fly in the face of the Government's position on cigarette advertising and the debate around advertising unhealthy food to children", the Evangelical Alliance has said in a press release this week.

The alliance continued: "The relaxed rules...will allow the first TV and radio commercials for gambling facilities from September."

The new rules were revealed on the same day that religious groups - including the Alliance - held a meeting with the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, a charity which exists to tackle problem gambling in Britain through the funding of treatment, research and education programmes.

Jennifer Hogg, an Evangelical Alliance volunteer advisor on gambling issues and mother of two said:
"I find it extraordinary that on the same day we met with the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, these new gambling advertising rules were published.

"While we were discussing distributing RIGT's excellent Government-backed education resources on gambling to youth organisations, rules were being published that will allow families to be bombarded with gambling advertising on TV and on public transport."

The Evangelical Alliance believes that legalising gambling advertising, combined with the explosion in online gambling, will drastically increase the availability and attractiveness of gambling.

It agrees with Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, who has stated that gambling advertising should have heath warnings and that the national lottery proves that advertising stimulates demand.

Gareth Wallace, Westminster Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said: "This smacks of a lack of joined up government. It also features marked double standards, since the Government is keen to ban all tobacco advertising. But gambling could be just as damaging to the nation's health.

"The consequences of problem gambling are well documented in respect of personal and family costs.

"There can be no 'socially responsible' advertising of gambling, which can be highly addictive. Children will be able to view gambling advertisements on TV and in public spaces."