Jackpotjoy and Virgin Games first gambling firms to pull advertising

Gamesys have been the first gambling firm to pull their products TV and radio advertising after the lockdown ban was enforced.

With the vast majority of the British public now rooted to their homes for the majority of day, there have been multiple fears expressed over what the lockdown could do to problem gamblers with little else to do.

As such, the decision was made to pull all gambling advertisements from radio and TV from May 7 onwards for a period of six weeks, after which the ban will then be reassessed.

Gamesys are the first ones to take the plunge to pull all of their advertisements surrounding their products on radio and television. Their gambling products include Jackpotjoy and Virgin Games, with the announcement also coming after Gamesys announced that their revenue increased nearly one-fifth year-on-year to £155.3m

They have pulled advertising such as their slot on ITV’s Loose Women, since replacing it with domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid for the foreseeable future. Gamesys themselves have said they believe “that it is prudent to suspend untargeted customer marketing until current social restrictions are eased”.

At the time of the announcement of gambling advertisements being pulled, BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “Throughout this crisis, as the new standards body, the BGC has worked very closely with the government.

“Ministers and the regulator all deserve credit for their steadfast and consistent determination to have an evidence-led approach and to rightly call for higher standards.

“There will always be alarmist noises from anti-gambling prohibitionists who just want to grab headlines, but it is this serious, constructive and evidence-led approach by the BGC’s regulated members that has resulted in this further major change.

“We are determined to do everything we can to protect customers potentially at risk during this lockdown period and beyond – and we are determined to drive the high standards that the public expect from us. I hope others follow our lead.”