Leaders from mental health, local government, and public health join CEGA in 2025

The Coalition to End Gambling Ads has welcomed the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute founded by Martin Lewis, Haringey Council, and the Faculty of Public Health as its latest members

Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is a leading mental health charity founded by Martin Lewis, which in 2024 launched its Gambling Harms Action Lab. The link between gambling, mental health and financial problems is strong and financial services can play a critical role in helping those affected. The Gambling Harms Action Lab is working with financial services and experts by experience to reduce gambling harms.

The Faculty of Public Health’s membership completes a full complement of the three leading British public health institutions in the Coalition, as they join the Association of Directors of Public Health, and the Royal Society for Public Health as members. In a BMJ opinion piece, Professor Kevin Fenton, President of the Faculty of Public Health, and Will Prochaska, Director of the Coalition, urged the Government to make it a particular priority to protect children from being exposed to gambling ads.

The three leading institutions’ membership clearly puts it beyond doubt that a ‘public health approach’ to gambling must include an end to gambling being promoted. This was also a call of the WHO in December 2024.

In a significant move, Haringey Council announced that they are the first Council in Britain to join the Coalition. At an event to mark their membership Cllr Ajda Ovat, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The steps we have already taken to limit gambling advertising on our own outlets reflect our dedication to this cause. We want to protect our communities and the impact that gambling can have on so many people, not just in Haringey but across the country. 

“We recognise the need for further collaboration to address gambling harm on a larger scale and hope many other councils will follow in our footsteps and bring about much needed change.”

Haringey’s announcement was covered by BBC London Television News, Radio, and online.