MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A group of Northern Ireland MLAs has actually triumphed 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 gamers to unite for The Big Step five-a-side tournament which was organised to highlight the exposure of young people to gambling advertising in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and former gaelic footballer Justin McNulty were amongst 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 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 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 also 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 smartphones. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the risks of betting marketing in soccer."


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


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


Finn McGrath (centre left) from All Party Group Secretariat in action versus 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 "extremely high levels of betting marketing" through televised sports programs and social networks material, much of which emanates from Great Britain.


The Big Step is a project 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 updated betting 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 presented last year to establish a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce stringent controls on gambling advertising, including a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have actually written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently present similar restrictions on betting marketing.


Talking to the PA news company, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA team's 6-1 success over the TDs.


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


On the subject of gambling, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however added it was important to highlight the dangers related to the practice, including dependency, poverty, bad mental health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring during a match, said the APG desired to send out a cumulative message to Westminster that betting marketing was a "serious problem" to be addressed.


"Gambling is one of those addictive matters we require to see better legislation around," he said.


Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, stated the island of Ireland has "difficulties" with betting.


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


Michael Carvill, primary executive of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, stated: "Our company believe there ought to be a reasonable decrease in gambling promo within the game to assist safeguard players, fans, and particularly young individuals from prospective damage."


One man who had actually been personally affected by betting dependency said Friday's competition was a "wonderful" effort.


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


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


"It was a really challenging 10 years for me, but sadly not just for me - it affected numerous parts of my life and individuals in my life. My mental health was affected too."


Mr Cregan, who now works with a body intended at reducing the damage of betting in society, stated: "Sport would be a much more secure place if betting marketing was kicked out."


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