UK: TV football pundits accused of helping to push gambling on young fans

UK: TV football pundits accused of helping to push gambling on young fans

Article brief provided by The Observer
  • Tom Wall, The Observer
June 13, 2021 9:25 PM
  • Tom Wall, The Observer

A viral social media campaign featuring high-profile BBC and ITV football pundits has been accused of normalising betting among the young and encouraging problem gambling during the Euro 2020 tournament.

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Sky Bet last week launched a series of videos starring BBC Euro 2020 pundit Micah Richards and ITV Euro 2020 pundit Roy Keane on a banter-packed road trip to Wembley. The five Sky Bet-branded videos have so far racked up more than 6 million views on the company’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, which also include posts offering free initial bets on the competition’s top scorer and prizes on Sky Bet’s online casino.

Sky Bet’s social media channels have also shared a branded interview with England captain Harry Kane by another ITV Euro 2020 pundit, Gary Neville.