Gambling execs said that they are "responding to public concerns" after confirming plans to effectively ban TV betting adverts during pre-watershed live sports, according to the BBC. The Industry Group for Responsible Gambling confirmed the ban, which will begin in '19. It follows "political pressure" about the amount of betting advertising on TV. No betting adverts will be shown during live sports coverage before 9pm in the U.K. from five minutes before the event begins until five minutes after it finishes. Horse racing and greyhound racing are exempt from the restrictions. The ban will include events that begin before the watershed but end after it. The Remote Gambling Association, made up of Britain's biggest betting companies including Bet365, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, voluntarily agreed to the ban. That proposal needed final ratification from the IGRG (BBC, 12/13). In London, Davies & Sweney reported the voluntary curbs do not include shirt sponsorship on ads that run around hoardings in stadiums, "which means gambling firms will still appear prominently during live sport" (GUARDIAN, 12/13).
