Drogheda back campaign to end gambling advertising in football.

Drogheda United have become the first club in the League of Ireland to support “The Big Step”, a campaign committed to ending all gambling advertising in football.

The Premier Division Club has also called on other League of Ireland clubs to take action against the issue. Champions Shamrock Rovers drew some criticism last month when the club signed their own racehorse with the support of a betting firm. Some fans and former players were embarrassed at the stunt, which many said would just make the issue worse.

Earlier this season, the FAI turned down a sponsorship deal from a betting firm but added that sponsorship matters for clubs were “internal matters” for clubs to decide themselves.

Dundalk announced a new shirt deal with a gambling firm last year, while other clubs like Bohemians have ditched such sponsors. St. Patrick’s Athletic ran an advertisement in last season’s FAI Cup Final entitled “Stop Gambling Harm.”

The campaign, based in the United Kingdom, forms part of the “Gambling with Lives” charity, created by those who have been bereaved due to gambling-related suicide. It’s estimated that up to 650 gambling-related suicides take place in the UK annually.

The Gambling Awareness Trust estimates that there are up to 50,000 people with gambling addiction in Ireland, while sufferers are up to fifteen times more likely to commit suicide.

Chairman of Drogheda United, Conor Hoey said that “as a club we try to maintain values that improve the lives of our supporters where we can.”

“Unfortunately, many of us involved in the club have seen eh damage that gambling addiction can to individuals and their families. Increasingly we have seen how synonymous gambling and football have become with a continual flow of endorsements by former players and celebrities to normalise this relationship.”

“We want to see this trend reversed in the UK and we want to stop it before it takes over the League of Ireland. We hope that our stance can be backed by other clubs in the league, and we hope that the League of Ireland can eb the first league to self-regulate and ban gambling advertising in football.”

James Grimes, founder of The Big Step said “Tobacco advertising was removed from sport because of the risk to public health, it’s not time for the same to happen with gambling, which is harming millions in both the UK and Ireland.



If you would like to seek help for gambling issues, go to www.problemgambling.ie or www.gamblersanonymous.ie

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