Lib Dem peer fails again to rein in gambling sponsorship as UK government holds firm

Lord Foster of Bath, a long-standing Liberal Democrat advocate for tighter gambling controls, saw his latest attempt to curb sports-related gambling marketing and unlicensed data collection rejected during the report stage of the Sporting Events Bill in the House of Lords on 15 July.

Foster proposed two amendments: banning all gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship at venues hosting events covered by the bill, and making it illegal for unlicensed organisations—such as overseas betting firms without a UK licence—to use data gathered by unlicensed data-collection companies. The bill itself, introduced by DCMS Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross, aims to standardise legislative provisions for major UK sporting events and provide financial support to events nationwide.

Foster and Twycross find common ground on black market, not on advertising

During debate, Foster argued that making unlicensed data use a crime would simplify prosecutions against illegal operators, directly supporting Twycross’s own fight against the black market. “The solution is very simple,” he said, “it would make it much easier to bring prosecutions against people who do not have one [a licence].”

Twycross acknowledged the shared goal of tackling illegal gambling but asked Foster to withdraw his amendment, which he did. She stated the government does not currently view sharing sports data with unlicensed firms as a “significant issue”, though she left the door open for future taskforce review. On sponsorship, Twycross echoed her fellow minister Lisa Nandy’s earlier stance: the government does “not appreciate” intervening in commercial sponsorship deals, but will act where necessary to ensure social responsibility, as outlined in the 2023 Gambling Act review White Paper.

Lib Dem persistence meets government resistance

This is not the first time the Liberal Democrats have tried to attach gambling restrictions to other legislation. Last year, MP Max Wilkinson attempted to amend the Football Governance Bill to force clubs to distance themselves from betting companies, only to be rebuffed by Nandy. Foster’s latest push similarly failed, but the exchange reveals a persistent cross-party appetite for tighter advertising rules.

Foster highlighted the scale of gambling tied to international events, noting that betting on the World Cup alone is believed to total half a trillion dollars, despite FIFA banning advertising in venues. “Gambling is very big business and it causes a great deal of harm to children and many other people,” he said.

Despite the setback, Foster and fellow reform-minded politicians may find a more sympathetic ear in the incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has shown support for some gambling reform arguments. Additionally, the English Devolution and Local Powers Bill earlier this year passed an amendment backed by PM Keir Starmer to reverse the Aim to Permit rule on retail licensing, hinting that other bills could still be used to reshape gambling regulation—even as the government remains focused on the Gambling Act review and the white paper’s recommendations.