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 harm.


The TDs and MLAs were joined by football, rugby and GAA players to unite for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was organised to the exposure of young people to gambling marketing 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 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 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, said: "Everyone has a gambling establishment in their pocket through their smart devices. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the risks of betting advertising in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has spoken about his own problems with betting addiction in the past, added: "The English Premier League is extremely popular here, and the gambling logo designs on shirts, arena signboards and TV adverts are relentless.


"This needs to be considerably lowered to attend to the general public health betting epidemic 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 people throughout the island of Ireland are exposed to "incredibly high levels of betting marketing" through telecasted sports programs and social media material, much of which originates from Great Britain.


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


Organisers stated Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction amongst the UK and the Republic of Ireland without upgraded betting legislation in the web 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 develop a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce stringent controls on gambling marketing, consisting of a broadcasting watershed.


Members of the APG have composed to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently present similar restrictions on gambling marketing.


Talking to the PA news firm, Mr Butler commemorated the MLA group's 6-1 triumph over the TDs.


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


On the topic of gambling, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however included it was essential to highlight the dangers related to the practice, including dependency, poverty, bad psychological health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, stated the APG wanted to send out a collective message to Westminster that betting marketing was a "severe concern" to be resolved.


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


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


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


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We think there ought to be a sensible decrease in betting promotion within the game to assist safeguard players, fans, and particularly youths from possible damage."


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


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


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


"It was a very hard ten years for me, but unfortunately not just for me - it impacted numerous parts of my life and individuals in my life. My mental health was impacted also."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body targeted at reducing the harm 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 ban" on betting advertising comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.