Top footballers and Love Island stars will be banned from advertising gambling to their young fans under new rules
- New restrictions include bans on footballers because of social media following
- The Committee for Advertising Practice is looking to safeguard young people
- The changes will come into effect on October 1, 2022, following a consultation
Leading footballers and Love Island stars will be banned from advertising gambling products to curb their appeal to young people under new rules to be introduced, a UK industry body has announced.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP) revealed the tough new restrictions, which include bans on all top-flight footballers because of their large social media following.
It comes as the organisation, which is responsible for the UK advertising and marketing code, works towards its commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable audiences.
CAP said the changes, which will come into effect on October 1, 2022, follow a consultation on tightening the rules launched in October 2020.
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in an advert for PokerStars. The new rules would see footballers like him banned from advertising gambling products
Shahriar Coupal, the director of the Committee for Advertising Practice (CAP), said the days of gambling ads featuring sport stars are numbered. West Ham are currently sponsored by Betway (pictured)
The new rules state that sports people, celebrities and social media influencers who are ‘likely to be of strong appeal to children or young persons, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture’ will be banned from gambling and lottery adverts.
CAP said this will include footballers with a large under-18 social media following and reality TV stars popular with the age group, like those on Love Island.
The rules will also ban adverts that use any imagery that may appeal to under-18s.
This covers video game content and gameplay popular with under-18s, as well as a person or character whose example is likely to be followed by or have particular appeal to the age group.
Shahriar Coupal, director of CAP, said: ‘The days of gambling ads featuring sports stars, video game imagery and other content of strong appeal to under-18s are numbered.
‘By ending these practices, our new rules invite a new era for gambling ads, more particular to the adult audience they can target and more befitting of the age-restricted product they’re promoting.’
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