MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

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


The TDs and MLAs were joined by football, rugby and GAA players to join for The Big Step five-a-side tournament 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 among 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 players from The Big Step campaign, 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 press 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, stated: "Everyone has a gambling establishment in their pocket through their smart devices. It is more important than ever that we highlight the risks of gambling marketing in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually spoken about his own issues with gambling addiction in the past, added: "The English Premier League is hugely popular here, and the betting logos on shirts, stadium signboards and TV adverts are unrelenting.


"This needs to be considerably reduced to address the general public health gambling epidemic we currently deal with."


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


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


The Big Step is a project run by Gambling With Lives to end all gambling marketing 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 against SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA)


They keep in mind how legislation was introduced in 2015 to develop a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and impose rigorous controls on betting advertising, including a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have composed to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently introduce similar limitations on betting marketing.


Talking to the PA news agency, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA group's 6-1 victory over the TDs.


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


On the subject of gaming, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group but added it was essential to highlight the threats connected with the practice, consisting of dependency, hardship, poor mental health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, stated the APG wished to send out a cumulative message to Westminster that gambling advertising was a "severe concern" to be addressed.


"Gambling is one of those addicting matters we need to see 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 requirement to do more to safeguard individuals "from the scourge of gambling".


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We believe there ought to be a practical reduction in promo within the video game to assist secure players, fans, and specifically young individuals from prospective harm."


One man who had actually been personally affected by betting addiction stated Friday's tournament was a "great" initiative.


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 with a ₤ 1 bet at the age of 16, he stated "things really rapidly got a hell of a lot even worse" to the point his last bet 10 years later on was for ₤ 4,500.


"It was an extremely difficult 10 years for me, but regrettably not simply for me - it affected numerous parts of my life and people in my life. My psychological health was impacted also."


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


He stated he would support a "blanket restriction" on betting marketing comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.