MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

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


The TDs and MLAs were joined by football, rugby and GAA players to unify for The Big Step five-a-side tournament which was organised to highlight the direct exposure of young individuals to betting advertising in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and former 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 signed up with by players 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, 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 occasion 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 vital than ever that we highlight the threats of gambling marketing in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually spoken about his own problems with gambling dependency in the past, included: "The English Premier League is extremely popular here, and the gaming logo designs on shirts, stadium billboards and TV adverts are relentless.


"This needs to be considerably decreased to address the public health gaming epidemic we presently 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 throughout the island of Ireland are exposed to "very high levels of betting marketing" through televised sports programmes and social networks content, much of which originates from Great Britain.


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


Organisers said Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction among the UK and the Republic of Ireland without upgraded betting legislation in the internet period.


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


They note how legislation was presented in 2015 to establish a gaming regulatory authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce rigorous controls on gambling advertising, consisting of a broadcasting watershed.


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


Speaking with the PA news agency, Mr Butler celebrated the MLA group'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 stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group but included it was essential to highlight the risks associated with the practice, consisting of dependency, hardship, 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 "serious issue" to be attended to.


"Gambling is among those addicting matters we require to see much better legislation around," he said.


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


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


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, stated: "Our company believe there should be a reasonable reduction in betting promo within the game to help protect gamers, fans, and particularly youths from potential damage."


One male who had been personally affected by betting dependency said Friday's tournament was a "great" initiative.


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


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


"It was an extremely tough ten years for me, however sadly not simply for me - it impacted numerous parts of my life and individuals in my life. My mental health was impacted too."


Mr Cregan, who now works with a body aimed at minimizing the harm of betting in society, stated: "Sport would be a much more secure location if gambling marketing was kicked out."


He stated he would support a "blanket restriction" on gambling advertising similar to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.