Explained: England’s proposed ban on gambling advertising in football – and why dangerous crypto firms could… – The Athletic

There is a view that English football has developed an uncomfortable relationship with the gambling industry, but enforced change is on the horizon.

A government-led review is nearing its conclusion before release this autumn. The long-term repercussions will be unavoidable.

Advertising on the front of clubs shirts is expected to be prohibited, with branding around grounds also up for discussion.

Revenue streams are set to be hit and football as with all sports will have little choice but to source income from elsewhere.

Here, The Athletic assesses the key issues before a landmark review.

The calls to halt gambling adverts are focused primarily on the protection of supporters.

Critics believe a market saturated by betting companies normalises a habit that can lead to dangerous addictions. The greater the exposure to gambling adverts, they argue, the larger the risk of fans coming to risk. There are thought to be 400,000 problem gamblers in the UK, with an estimated 1.8 million more experiencing harm.

So, what is the government trying to do with this change?

When is the white paper going to be published?

The government decided last December to undertake a wide-ranging review of the 2005 Gambling Act. Critics had called it outdated and unfit for purpose in the booming age of online gambling. As sports minister Nigel Huddleston said, the review would strive to pull our legal framework into the digital age.

Taking in 16 weeks of evidence, the review was closed in late March and its findings are forecast to be published before the end of November.

The department for culture, media and sport (DCMS) says no decisions have yet been made, but the long-held expectation is that it will mark the end of gambling companies being permitted to advertise in the prime real-estate on the chests of teams shirts.

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Explained: England's proposed ban on gambling advertising in football - and why dangerous crypto firms could... - The Athletic