MLAs Triumph Over TDs In Gambling Awareness Match
A group of Northern Ireland MLAs has 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 players to unite for The Big Step five-a-side tournament which was arranged to highlight the direct exposure of youths to gambling 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 signed up with by players from The Big Step project, the 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 event was also 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 gambling establishment in their pocket through their mobile phones. It is more crucial than ever that we highlight the dangers of gambling marketing in soccer."
The Sinn Fein MLA, who has actually spoken about his own problems with gambling addiction in the past, included: "The English Premier League is hugely popular here, and the gambling logos on t-shirts, stadium signboards and TV adverts are unrelenting.
"This requires to be considerably decreased to resolve the general public health betting epidemic we currently 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 young individuals across the island of Ireland are exposed to "very high levels of betting marketing" through televised sports programs and social media material, much of which originates from Great Britain.
The Big Step is a project run by Gambling With Lives to end all gambling marketing and sponsorship in football.
Organisers said Northern Ireland is now the only jurisdiction among the UK and the Republic of Ireland without upgraded gambling legislation in the internet era.
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 develop a gaming regulative authority in the Republic of Ireland and impose strict controls on gambling advertising, including a broadcasting watershed.
Members of the APG have actually composed to Sport and Media Secretary Lisa Nandy to urgently introduce comparable limitations on gambling marketing.
Speaking with 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 betting, he said the APG was not a "prohibitionist" group however added it was necessary to highlight the risks related to the practice, consisting of addiction, poverty, bad mental health and suicide.
The deputy leader of the UUP, who pulled a hamstring during a match, said the APG wanted to send a cumulative message to Westminster that betting marketing was a "major issue" to be resolved.
"Gambling is among those addicting matters we require to see better legislation around," he said.
Mr Feighan, the captain of the TDs, said the island of Ireland has "obstacles" with gaming.
The Fine Gael TD stated that while he bets "a bit" himself, there was a requirement to do more to protect people "from the scourge of gaming".
Michael Carvill, primary executive of Professional Football Players Northern Ireland, stated: "Our company believe there need to be a practical reduction in betting promotion within the video game to assist secure gamers, fans, and particularly young people from prospective harm."
One man who had been personally affected by gambling addiction said Friday's tournament was a "wonderful" initiative.
Declan Cregan, a training and engagement officer for Chapter One, said his love of sport had been messed up by gambling in the past.
After starting off with a ₤ 1 bet at the age of 16, he said "things extremely 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 very hard ten years for me, but sadly not just for me - it impacted numerous parts of my life and individuals in my life. My psychological health was impacted also."
Mr Cregan, who now deals with a body targeted at lowering the harm of betting in society, said: "Sport would be a much more secure place if betting marketing was tossed out."
He said he would support a "blanket restriction" on betting advertising similar to the watershed in the Republic of Ireland.