Haringey Council has become the first local authority in Britain to demand a national ban on gambling advertising, joining forces with the Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) in a landmark move to combat gambling-related harm.
The North London borough, where an estimated 8,000 residents suffer from gambling-related problems, is pushing for stricter controls on gambling promotion amid growing concerns about its impact on communities. Officials estimate gambling harm costs the borough over £8 million annually in social care, healthcare, and housing-related expenses.
“The fact that we are the first council in the country to push for an end to gambling advertising shows how seriously we take this issue,” says Councillor Lucia das Neves, Haringey’s Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care & Wellbeing. “We are doing everything in our power to stop the negative impact this has on thousands of people.”
The council’s data suggests that beyond those directly affected by gambling addiction, approximately 25,000 family members and friends also experience the ripple effects of gambling harm in the borough.
Will Prochaska, Director of CEGA, praised Haringey’s initiative: “Councils don’t have adequate powers to protect their citizens from the predatory gambling industry, but they do have a powerful voice nationally. It’s important now that more councils follow Haringey’s lead.”
The borough already provides comprehensive support services, including early intervention work in schools and debt management assistance. Regular meetings of the Haringey Gambling Harms Reduction Network bring together residents, council staff, and partners to address the issue.
Councillor Ajda Ovat, Cabinet Member for Communities, hopes other local authorities will join the campaign: “We want to protect our communities from the impact that gambling can have on so many people, not just in Haringey but across the country.”
The move represents the latest step in an ongoing national debate about gambling advertising restrictions, with Haringey becoming the first council to formally advocate for a complete ban.
