The number of television betting adverts shown on ITV during the 2020 UEFA European Championships has reduced by almost half compared to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, new figures have shown.

According to data released by the broadcaster, a total of 85 such ads appeared on ITV and ITV4 during the Euro 2020 group stages – 47% less than the 161 betting adverts shown on the same channels during the group stage of the last World Cup three years ago.

According to ITV, that works out at 3.7 ads per live match at this year’s tournament, compared to 6.9 in 2018, as a result of the whistle-to-whistle ban introduced by Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) members in 2019.