Over 5,000 Visible Gambling Ads Spotted During Recent Premier League Match
Over 5,000 Gambling Ads Spotted During Single Premier League Match Despite Ban
A University of Bristol study has revealed 5,262 instances of visible gambling advertisements during live coverage of Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Wolves on August 16, despite a long-standing “whistle-to-whistle” ban meant to reduce exposure.
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91% of ads were seen during live play, with the rest occurring in pre- and post-match coverage.
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This marks the highest number of in-play gambling ads recorded in a single Premier League game since the study began in 2023.
The whistle-to-whistle ban, introduced in 2019, prohibits TV betting ads from airing five minutes before kick-off to five minutes after full-time, but only applies until 9pm and does not cover stadium ads, such as:
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Shirt sponsorships
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Pitchside hoardings
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Logos in stadiums
These unregulated formats have increased significantly, contributing to the sharp rise in ad visibility.
Opening Weekend Figures (2025)
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13,200 gambling messages were recorded during the whistle-to-whistle ban window—a 32% increase from 2024.
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Total messages across all platforms: 27,440 (down slightly from 2024, but still 3x higher than 2023).
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Platforms included: Sky Sports, talkSPORT, and social media coverage.
Political and Regulatory Response
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, chair of the Gambling Reform All Party Parliamentary Group, criticized the industry:
In 2024, gambling messages increased by 165% on opening weekend compared to 2023.
The UK Gambling Commission has recommended the government limit the frequency and volume of ads inside sports venues, while public support continues to grow for a complete ban on gambling ads — similar to the tobacco advertising ban introduced in 2002 BDG Game.