MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A group of Northern Ireland MLAs has triumphed 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 gamers to join for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was organised to highlight the direct exposure of young people 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 signed up with 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 reporter James Gould, Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly, Finn McGrath from the All Party Group Secretariat, and 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, said: "Everyone has a casino in their pocket through their mobile phones. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the threats of betting advertising in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has discussed his own problems with betting dependency in the past, included: "The English Premier League is hugely popular here, and the gaming logos on shirts, arena billboards and TV adverts are unrelenting.


"This requires to be significantly lowered to address the 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 recent 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 campaign run by Gambling With Lives to end all betting marketing and sponsorship in football.


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


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


They keep in mind how legislation was introduced last year to develop a betting regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce stringent controls on gambling advertising, consisting of a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have actually written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently introduce comparable restrictions on gaming marketing.


Speaking with the PA news firm, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA group's 6-1 success over the TDs.


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


On the subject of gambling, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however included it was crucial to highlight the dangers related to the practice, including addiction, hardship, bad psychological health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring during a match, said the APG desired to send a cumulative message to Westminster that gambling advertising was a "major concern" to be resolved.


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


Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, stated the island of Ireland has "obstacles" with gambling.


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


Michael Carvill, chief executive of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We believe there ought to be a practical reduction in gambling promo within the video game to help protect gamers, fans, and specifically youths from prospective harm."


One guy who had been personally impacted by betting addiction said Friday's competition was a "fantastic" effort.


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


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


"It was a really difficult ten years for me, but regrettably not simply for me - it impacted numerous parts of my life and individuals in my life. My mental health was impacted as well."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body aimed at reducing the damage of gaming in society, stated: "Sport would be a much more secure place 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.