A cross-party group of UK peers has called for a near-total ban on gambling advertising to protect public health, sparking a strong reaction from the industry. In a 173-page report, the House of Lords liaison committee criticized the government for being too passive in responding to the rise of digital advertising and social media influencers promoting gambling. The report highlights that the UK gambling sector, including bookmakers, slot machine venues, and casinos, generated £12.6 billion in revenue last year, yet up to 1.4 million people in Great Britain have gambling-related problems, according to official data. The report suggests that a "tobacco-style" blanket ban on gambling advertising—excluding the lottery and racecourses—would be the most effective way to reduce the harm caused by gambling, such as financial ruin, relationship breakdowns, and even suicide. While the report acknowledges that such a ban might shrink the legal gambling industry in the short term, it argues that the economy could benefit in the long run as consumers redirect their spending to other sectors. The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC), which represents the gambling industry, dismissed the report as "deeply misguided." The group warned that banning advertising could lead to more harm by pushing consumers toward the unregulated, or "illicit," gambling market, which would continue to advertise freely. Lord Foster, one of the report’s authors, acknowledged the concern about the illicit market but emphasized that the legal sector also contributes significantly to public harm. He pointed to ongoing efforts by regulators to tackle rogue gambling sites but stressed that the legal market’s advertising practices must also be addressed. Gambling advertising in the UK has expanded significantly since the 2005 Gambling Act, which aimed to regulate the sector while promoting it as a legitimate leisure activity. Before the act, only limited forms of gambling, such as bingo and the National Lottery, were permitted to advertise on television. Today, the industry spends an estimated £2 billion annually on advertising, a sharp increase from previous years. In contrast to the former Labour leader Tony Blair, who supported the 2005 legislation, current Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been a vocal critic of the gambling industry, pushing for restrictions on new betting shops and "slot farms" on high streets. Meanwhile, the BGC claims that half of the advertising budget for legal gambling firms now comes from the growing illicit market, which operates outside of regulatory controls.