MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

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


The TDs and MLAs were signed up with by football, rugby and GAA players to unite for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was arranged to highlight the direct exposure of youths to betting advertising in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and previous 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 joined by gamers 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, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty, Sinn Fein TD Joanna Byrne, Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan, Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan (front row) Cool FM chief press 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, said: "Everyone has a casino in their pocket through their mobile phones. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the threats of gambling advertising in soccer."


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


"This requires to be substantially minimized to attend to the general public health we currently face."


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 young individuals throughout the island of Ireland are exposed to "very high levels of gambling marketing" through telecasted sports programs and social media content, much of which emanates 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 gaming legislation in the internet age.


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


They note how legislation was presented last year to establish a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce rigorous controls on betting advertising, consisting of a broadcasting watershed.


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


Speaking with the PA news company, Mr Butler celebrated the MLA team's 6-1 success over the TDs.


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


On the topic of betting, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group but included it was essential to highlight the risks connected with the practice, consisting of dependency, poverty, bad mental health and suicide.


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


"Gambling is among those addictive matters we need to see better legislation around," he said.


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


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


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "Our company believe there must be a sensible decrease in gambling promo within the game to help protect players, fans, and specifically young people from prospective harm."


One man who had actually been personally impacted by betting addiction said Friday's competition was a "wonderful" initiative.


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


After starting off 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 ten years later was for ₤ 4,500.


"It was a very challenging 10 years for me, but sadly not simply for me - it affected a lot of parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was impacted as well."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body aimed at reducing the harm of gaming in society, stated: "Sport would be a much safer place if betting advertising was kicked out."


He stated he would support a "blanket ban" on betting marketing comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.