1. Public Opinion and Consumer Protection

As you mentioned, public opinion is strongly leaning toward stricter regulations on gambling advertisements, particularly to protect vulnerable groups such as minors. The poll you referenced—showing 51% of UK respondents in favor of a full ban on gambling ads and 78% against gambling ads targeted at minors—reflects broader concerns about gambling’s

societal impact, including addiction, financial harm, and its normalization in the media. This sentiment aligns with global moves to limit advertising exposure in other “sin” industries, like tobacco.

In places like Italy, where a full ban has been enacted, there’s evidence suggesting that such measures can reduce the normalization of gambling as a harmless activity, reducing the

stigma around addiction and fostering a healthier cultural approach. Yet, the effectiveness of these bans, in terms of actual harm reduction, remains a topic of ongoing debate.

2. Regulation Versus the Black Market

One key counterargument against tighter advertising restrictions is the potential rise of the unregulated, black market. Governments and regulators worry that reducing advertising could

push consumers toward illegal operators who don’t follow consumer protection rules or offer support for responsible gambling. In the US, where the sports betting industry has recently

expanded, there’s been a push for more regulation on advertising to ensure fairness and transparency. The fear is that an overzealous reduction could make gambling more

secretive,harder to monitor, and ultimately more dangerous for users.