MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match

A team of Northern Ireland MLAs has actually triumphed 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 unite for The Big Step five-a-side competition which was arranged to highlight the direct 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 players 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 smart devices. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the threats of betting marketing in soccer."


The Sinn Fein MLA, who has discussed his own issues with gambling dependency in the past, added: "The English Premier League is extremely popular here, and the gaming logos on t-shirts, arena signboards and TV adverts are unrelenting.


"This needs to be significantly lowered to address the public health betting 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 current cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University showed that youths 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 gambling advertising 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 against SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA)


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


Members of the APG have written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently present comparable restrictions on gaming marketing.


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


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


On the topic of gambling, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however added it was essential to highlight the risks associated with the practice, including dependency, hardship, bad psychological health and suicide.


The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring throughout a match, said the APG desired to send out a collective message to Westminster that betting marketing was a "major problem" to be dealt with.


"Gambling is one of those addicting matters we need to see better legislation around," he said.


Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, stated the island of Ireland has "difficulties" with gaming.


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


Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We think there need to be a practical reduction in betting promotion within the video game to help protect gamers, fans, and especially young individuals from prospective harm."


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


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


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


"It was an extremely tough 10 years for me, however regrettably not simply for me - it affected numerous parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was impacted also."


Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body targeted at decreasing the damage of gambling in society, stated: "Sport would be a much safer location if gambling marketing was tossed out."


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