MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A team of Northern Ireland MLAs has triumphed over deputies from the Republic's Dail in a football match to raise awareness about gambling-related harm.


The TDs and MLAs were signed up with by football, rugby and GAA gamers to unify for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was arranged to highlight the exposure of youths to gambling advertising in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and previous gaelic footballer Justin McNulty were amongst MLAs representing the Assembly while TDs Aidan Farrelly, Ruairi O Murchu, Darren O'Rourke and Frankie Feighan lined out on behalf of the Oireachtas.


They were joined by gamers from The Big Step project, the Professional Footballers Associations for Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Gaelic Players Association and Rugby Players Ireland.


UUP MLA Robbie Butler, Sinn Fein TD Darren O ´ Rourke, DUP MLA Stephen Dunne, Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne, Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan, Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan (front row) Cool FM chief reporter James Gould, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, Finn McGrath from the All Party Group Secretariat, and Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu (Liam McBurney/PA)


The event was likewise supported by the Northern Ireland Assembly's All Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling.


Mr McGuigan, chairman of the APG on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, said: "Everyone has a casino in their pocket through their smart devices. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the risks of gambling advertising in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually discussed his own issues with betting dependency in the past, included: "The English Premier League is extremely popular here, and the gambling logos on t-shirts, stadium billboards and TV adverts are ruthless.


"This needs to be significantly minimized to address the general public health gaming epidemic we presently face."


Finn McGrath (centre left) from All Party Group Secretariat in action versus Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu (centre right) (Liam McBurney/PA)


A recent cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University showed that youths across the island of Ireland are exposed to "incredibly high levels of betting marketing" through telecasted sports programmes and social media content, much of which emanates from Great Britain.


The Big Step is a campaign run by Gambling With Lives to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.


Organisers stated Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction among the UK and the Republic of Ireland without updated gambling legislation in the web age.


Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan (left) in action versus SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA)


They keep in mind how legislation was presented last year to establish a betting regulatory authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce rigorous controls on betting marketing, including a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently present similar restrictions on betting marketing.


Speaking with the PA news firm, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA team's 6-1 victory over the TDs.


Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan shoots during the match (Liam McBurney/PA)


On the topic of gaming, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however added it was very important to highlight the risks related to the practice, consisting of addiction, poverty, bad mental health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, said the APG wished to send out a collective message to Westminster that gambling advertising was a "severe problem" to be dealt with.


"Gambling is one of those addictive matters we require to see much better legislation around," he said.


Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, said the island of Ireland has "difficulties" with gaming.


The Fine Gael TD said that while he bets "a bit" himself, there was a need to do more to protect people "from the scourge of gambling".


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "Our company believe there need to be a reasonable reduction in gambling promotion within the video game to gamers, fans, and particularly youths from potential damage."


One male who had been personally affected by gambling dependency said Friday's tournament was a "fantastic" effort.


Declan Cregan, a training and engagement officer for Chapter One, said his love of sport had been messed up by gambling in the past.


After beginning off with a ₤ 1 bet at the age of 16, he said "things very quickly got a hell of a lot even worse" to the point his last bet ten years later on was for ₤ 4,500.


"It was a really hard ten years for me, but sadly not just for me - it affected a lot of parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was impacted too."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body focused on lowering the harm of gaming in society, said: "Sport would be a much more secure location if betting marketing was kicked out."


He said he would support a "blanket ban" on gambling advertising comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.