Labour sports spokesperson Senator Mark Wall has commended the Belgian government for its landmark decision to ban all gambling advertisements.

The Kildare politician introduced a bill two years ago that would ban all gambling ads in Ireland to protect problem gamblers and end the mass preying of gambling companies on vulnerable and young people.

Senator Wall remarked that in recognition of “the harm caused by advertising” to those at risk of gambling addiction, Belgium has taken the “brave” move to ban all gambling ads from July of this year and Ireland must follow suit.

“Government had an opportunity to be a real leader in this space by working with the Labour Party and introduce our legislation that would do the same here,” he said.