GPA calls for ban on betting adverts during live GAA broadcasts

Betting adverts shown during live broadcasts of gaelic football and hurling could be banned, after the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) submitted proposals to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) calling for a rule change.

The proposal is currently being drafted for discussion at this weekend’s GAA Congress, and if successful, will then be passed on to the GAA Central Council with hopes to implement the rule change at GAA Congress 2021.

In a statement on its website, the GPA confirmed that its representative Seamus Hickey would be campaigning for the development of a formal policy which would prohibit gambling advertising during live broadcasts of the two sports.

The proposals from the GPA follow on from the publication of the Economic and Social Research Institute Report published at the end of 2019, in which 80% of respondents believed teammates engage in gambling on either a daily or a weekly basis.

Paul Flynn, GPA CEO, explained: “It was clear from the ESRI Report that gambling is an issue that concerns inter-county players. The ESRI Reports, the GPA Student Report and other membership surveys allow us to listen to the voice of players and act accordingly.

“This information informs us of their views on issues of great importance to them and their playing experiences. This guides our policy developments and strategy initiatives.

“Both the GAA and the GPA have long been leaders in this area and we’ll now work with Central Council to take another big step towards removing the link between gambling and our games.”

The statement on the GPA site continued: “Gambling promotion during GAA games presents a heightened risk to the welfare of all members of the GAA but particularly children and those most vulnerable to the perils of this destructive addiction.

“The proliferation of online betting and the availability of betting advertising around Gaelic Games has helped develop a worrying cultural issue with gambling in the GAA.

“We believe that the GAA, through its relationships with its broadcast partners, has the ability to prevent the broadcast of gambling ads during matches. Removing this intrinsic link between inter-county games and betting advertising reduces the risk of vulnerable members of the association developing issues with problem gambling.

“The GPA provides 24/7 counselling support to all members and see first-hand the impact of gambling addiction on players who have accessed support. In light of the impact gambling addiction has had on many of our members, the GPA wishes to remove any direct link to gambling advertising and our members.”

Previous articleBrazilian supergroup travels to Spain to research sports betting frameworks
Next articleSpanish government reveals sports betting ban plans