The Pitch: Regulator losing its pitched battle against live betting advertising  

READ THE SIGNS: Ivan Toney of Brentford has a shot with LeoVegas advertisement seen on the LED boards around Etihad Stadium reading 'Please Gamble Responsibly' during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford FC at Etihad Stadium on February 20, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival - when Irish and British punters will gamble up to €500m on exchanges - the Regulator here has been dealt a significant setback in her attempts to ban all forms of pre-watershed betting advertising.

A year ago, CEO of the Gambling Regulation Authority of Ireland, Anne-Marie Caulfield, announced that under her watch live advertising during sports events would no longer be permitted around pitches on Irish screens, before 9pm.