Irish TV criticised for accepting online gambling advertising

14.11.2005

The Belfast Telegraph reported over the weekend that Ulster TV in Ireland has been lambasted for displaying online gambling advertisements on its website

David McIlveen, a high profile Free Presbyterian minister said that UTV's actions in accepting the advertising were " reprehensible" and suggested that the executives responsible re-think the decision.

The Rev McIlveen has previously commented on the rise of internet gambling in Northern Ireland, and said: "They (Ulster TV) are trying to create a strong and constructive family image, yet these ads are highly destructive. The inclusion of any temptation to gamble is reprehensible - gambling can ruin lives. I believe they need to review this because it's not as if they need the extra revenue."

UTV is an internet service provider for thousands of web users - including schools - and one premier rate ad on its main page carries the invitation: 'Join the world's largest online Poker Room,' suggesting that the advertiser is probably Party Poker.com.

An unidentified spokesman for Gamblers Anonymous, commenting on the issue said that more and more people are looking for help following the introduction of internet gambling.

Speaking to the newspaper, the source said, "It's far worse now than it ever was. It's everywhere - 24/7. The internet also opened up opportunities for younger people to become involved. We've found that many are absconding from school and that gambling is one of the things they're involved in. In a very short space of time you will see growing support to have gambling advertisements banned - just like smoking ads are."

Last week the British government fired a warning shot, cautioning offshore gambling companies that their advertising in the UK could be the subject of government sanction if it continued to infringe laws against offering inducements to gamble.

Ulster TV has a total of 22 radio stations and an Internet service; last year it bought the Wireless Group which owns Talksport, Britain's national radio sports station, and 16 independent local radio stations for GBP 97 million.

A spokeswoman for UTV Internet said: "Banner advertisements for poker and casino sites are commonplace online and in a wide variety of other media in Northern Ireland. Parents or schools that are concerned about the possibility of minors accessing such sites have the option to install filtering software to block such access."