Gambling ads should be banned in Tallaght Stadium
A COUNCILLOR has called for a ban on gambling advertisements in and around the grounds of Tallaght Stadium.
An Rabharta Glas – Green Left councillor for Tallaght Central, Liam Sinclair, raised the issue at this week’s monthly meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee.
Cllr Sinclair asked the chief executive of South Dublin County Council if there were any rules in place in relation to the placement of gambling ads in and around Tallaght Stadium.
In response, the council stated: “In the event of a club sponsor having an association with gambling the council have no basis to prevent such advertising or incorporation of logos on club merchandise or signage during matches.
“As matters stand, gambling is not illegal so once it is contained on approved club signage, either outside or pitch side the council have no basis to address [it].”
Cllr Sinclair told The Echo: “There’s plenty of things that are legal but there are restrictions around advertising, like smoking – it’s legal, but you can’t advertise it anywhere, so there is a precedent for this.”
Cllr Liam Sinclair
He added that, while many people participate in gambling responsibly, there should still be a “social responsibility” on the council to consider restricting gambling advertising in the stadium.
The stadium is the home ground for League of Ireland team Shamrock Rovers, who last year announced online gambling and betting company 888sport as their principal sponsor, with the company’s logo being a familiar sight to fans of the Hoops as it’s displayed on the players’ jerseys.
A section of the 888sport website contains details about responsible gambling, including measures for preventing compulsive gambling.
However, Cllr Sinclair said the presence of the 888sport logo on the players’ jerseys should be the only permitted gambling advertising in the popular sports venue.
“It’s on their jerseys,” he said. “I accept that there’s nothing we can do about that, but I would draw a firm line there.”
Cllr Sinclair added that he’s planning to raise the issue again as a motion for discussion and to be voted on at an upcoming full meeting of South Dublin County Council.
