NHS England chief urges football clubs to consider impact of gambling sponsorships
NHS England chief, Amanda Pritchard, urges football clubs to recognize the influence of gambling sponsorships on fans, highlighting the message it sends to children
Amanda Pritchard, the head of NHS England, has called on football clubs to consider the impact on fans when accepting sponsorships from gambling companies, as such deals send a message to children that gambling is acceptable.
Pritchard's comments come as the NHS plans to increase the number of gambling addiction clinics to 15 due to a surge in referrals.
In 2022-23, the NHS received a record number of 1,389 referrals for gambling support, up from 775 two years earlier.
Pritchard emphasized the need for the gambling industry and organizations like football clubs to take their responsibilities seriously regarding gambling-related harms.