MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A team of Northern Ireland MLAs has actually thrived 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 competition which was arranged to highlight the exposure of young people to in sport.


Philip McGuigan, Robbie Butler, Stephen Dunne and former 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 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 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 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 smartphones. It is more important than ever that we highlight the dangers of gambling advertising in soccer."


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


"This requires to be significantly lowered to resolve the public health betting epidemic we presently 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 current cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University revealed that youths across the island of Ireland are exposed to "extremely high levels of betting marketing" through telecasted sports programs and social media content, 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 amongst the UK and the Republic of Ireland without upgraded gaming legislation in the internet period.


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


They note how legislation was introduced in 2015 to establish a gambling regulatory authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce stringent controls on betting marketing, including a broadcasting watershed.


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


Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Butler celebrated the MLA team's 6-1 victory over the TDs.


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


On the topic of gaming, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however included it was crucial to highlight the dangers connected with the practice, consisting of addiction, poverty, poor mental health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, stated the APG wished to send a collective message to Westminster that betting advertising was a "severe problem" 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 "difficulties" with gambling.


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


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


One guy who had been personally affected by betting addiction stated 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 ruined by betting in the past.


After beginning with a ₤ 1 bet at the age of 16, he stated "things extremely quickly got a hell of a lot even worse" to the point his last bet 10 years later was for ₤ 4,500.


"It was a very tough 10 years for me, but sadly not just for me - it impacted so numerous parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was impacted too."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body targeted at lowering the harm of gambling in society, said: "Sport would be a much safer place if betting advertising was kicked out."


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