The Big Step campaign will be at this weekend’s match against Eastleigh with the message that they are continuing the fight against gambling advertising in football.

The Big Step campaign to end gambling ads and sponsorship in football is led by people harmed by gambling, and part of Gambling with Lives, a charity that supports those bereaved by gambling-related suicide.

We joined the campaign in 2021, and have been one of the loudest voices. Players wore yellow laces to highlight the campaign in an FA Cup game broadcast live on the BBC.

The Big Step will have banner ads shown during the game as well as a dedicated area in the fan zone.

Premier League clubs have agreed to voluntarily remove gambling ads from shirt fronts from the start of the 2026/2027 season. But research has shown that more than 29,000 ads were shown in the opening weekend of Premier League, and most were not front of shirt ads.

Around 2.5% of the adult population in the UK has a gambling problem and between 117 to 496 of those take their lives each year.

Emily Beck, spokesperson for the Big Step says:

“Forest Green Rovers’ support has been immense in the ongoing battle to ensure everyone, including children, are not bombarded with harmful advertising when all they want to do is watch a football match with their friends and family.

“More than 40 clubs now are part of this campaign, sending a strong message that gambling ads have no place in our national sport.”