MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

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


The TDs and MLAs were signed up with by football, rugby and GAA players to join for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was organised to highlight the direct exposure of youths to betting 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 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 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 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 smartphones. It is more essential than ever that we highlight the threats of gambling marketing in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually discussed his own issues with gambling 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 unrelenting.


"This requires to be considerably reduced to address the general public health gaming epidemic we presently deal with."


Finn McGrath (centre left) from All Party Group Secretariat in action versus Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu (centre right) (Liam McBurney/PA)


A recent cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University revealed that young individuals throughout the island of Ireland are exposed to "incredibly high levels of betting marketing" through televised sports programmes and social networks content, 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 stated Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction amongst the UK and the Republic of Ireland without updated gaming legislation in the web age.


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


They keep in mind how legislation was presented in 2015 to develop a betting regulatory authority in the Republic of Ireland and impose strict controls on betting marketing, including a broadcasting watershed.


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


Talking to the PA news company, Mr Butler celebrated the MLA group's 6-1 success over the TDs.


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


On the topic of gambling, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group but included it was essential to highlight the risks related to the practice, including dependency, hardship, bad mental health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, said the APG wanted to send a collective message to Westminster that gambling advertising was a "serious issue" to be addressed.


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


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


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


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


One man who had actually been personally affected by betting dependency stated Friday's tournament was a "wonderful" initiative.


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


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


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


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body focused on decreasing the damage of betting in society, said: "Sport would be a much safer place if betting marketing was tossed out."


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