MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match
A group of Northern Ireland MLAs has actually triumphed over deputies from the Republic's Dail in a football match to raise awareness about gambling-related harm.
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 to highlight the exposure of youths to betting advertising 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 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, stated: "Everyone has a casino in their pocket through their mobile phones. It is more important than ever that we highlight the dangers of betting marketing in soccer."
The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually spoken about his own issues with gambling addiction in the past, added: "The English Premier League is hugely popular here, and the betting logos on t-shirts, stadium signboards and TV adverts are relentless.
"This needs to be significantly minimized to deal with the public health gaming epidemic we currently face."
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 showed that young individuals throughout the island of Ireland are exposed to "extremely high levels of betting marketing" through telecasted sports programmes and social networks material, much of which emanates 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 versus SDLP MLA Justin McNulty (Liam McBurney/PA)
They note how legislation was presented in 2015 to develop a betting regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and enforce rigorous controls on gambling advertising, consisting of a broadcasting watershed.
Members of the APG have written to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently introduce comparable restrictions on betting marketing.
Speaking with the PA news company, Mr Butler commemorated 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 gambling, he stated the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however added it was essential to highlight the threats related to the practice, including addiction, poverty, bad mental health and suicide.
The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring during a match, stated the APG wished to send a collective message to Westminster that gambling advertising was a "serious issue" to be attended to.
"Gambling is one of those addicting 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 stated that while he bets "a bit" himself, there was a need to do more to secure people "from the scourge of betting".
Michael Carvill, president of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, said: "We think there need to be a reasonable reduction in gambling promotion within the game to help secure gamers, fans, and specifically youths from potential damage."
One man who had been personally impacted by gambling addiction stated Friday's tournament was a "wonderful" initiative.
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 said "things really 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 difficult 10 years for me, but sadly not just for me - it affected so lots of parts of my life and people in my life. My mental health was affected as well."
Mr Cregan, who now works with a body focused on decreasing the harm of gambling in society, stated: "Sport would be a much more secure location if betting advertising was kicked out."
He said he would support a "blanket restriction" on gambling marketing comparable to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.