Gambling firms spent nearly £5m to advertise on TfL since London mayor’s ban pledge

Sadiq Khan’s office blames delay on lack of government guidance on links between gambling ads and harm

Gambling companies have spent nearly £5m to advertise on the London transport network since Sadiq Khan pledged to stop them from doing so, amid a prolonged impasse between the mayor’s office and the government.

Khan said during his 2021 mayoral election campaign that he would order Transport for London (TfL) to extend a ban on junk food ads to cover online casinos and bookmakers as well, citing the “devastating” impact of addiction.