Gambling regulation
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Closed
Inquiry
MPs are to examine the Government’s approach to the regulation of gambling, following warnings that more needs to be done to protect people, including children, from gambling-related harm. The DCMS Committee inquiry will be investigating the progress the Government has made in addressing the issues raised by Parliament, how to …
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23
Recommendations
5
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
14
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 24 events
21 May
2024
2024
19 Apr
2024
2024
21 Feb
2024
2024
6 Feb
2024
2024
21 Dec
2023
2023
Report published
13 Dec
2023
2023
12 Dec
2023
2023
21 Nov
2023
2023
14 Nov
2023
2023
18 Oct
2023
2023
19 Sep
2023
2023
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
5 Sep 2023
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Andrew Rhodes · Gambling Commission
Ben Dean · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Sarah Gardner · Gambling Commission
Tim Miller · Gambling Commission
18 Jul 2023
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Charles Ritchie · Gambling with Lives
Dr James Noyes · Social Market Foundation
Dr Matthew Gaskell · NHS Northern Gambling Service
Professor Heather Wardle · University of Glasgow
Will Prochaska · Gambling with Lives
11 Jul 2023
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John White · Bacta
Michael Dugher · Betting and Gaming Council
Miles Baron · Bingo Association
Wes Himes · Betting and Gaming Council
16 May 2023
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Anna Hargrave · GambleAware
Anna Hemmings · GamCare
Matthew Hickey · Gordon Moody
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Report - Gambling regulation | HC 176 | 21 Dec 2023 | 28 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
2
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Ensure thorough White Paper consultations receive input from an appropriate range of stakeholders.
Though speed is a necessity, the Government and Gambling Commission must ensure that the White Paper consultations are thorough and receive input from an appropriate range of stakeholders.
Government Response
The government agrees on the need for thorough consultations with appropriate stakeholders, noting the importance of speed in implementing new protections, and states that their ongoing consultation process has already provided invaluable evidence.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Annual fee adjustment power will properly resource Gambling Commission for White Paper reforms.
We welcome the forthcoming review of the Gambling Commission’s fees and the proposal to give the Commission the power to adjust its own fees annually. These will be vital to ensure the regulator is properly resourced to implement the White …
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Government Response
The government welcomes the committee’s endorsement of the proposal to give the Gambling Commission authority to set licence fees and will continue to work on reforms to the funding framework to ensure adequate resourcing.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Address unlicensed gambling sites targeting self-excluded users through new legislative powers.
We consider that while it will be important to monitor the size of the black market in response to greater regulation, more pertinent is the fact that, right now, a number of easily-accessible illegal sites are targeting some of those …
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Government Response
The government states it is working to deliver the Gambling Act review proposals by summer 2024 through various vehicles like existing powers, secondary legislation, and industry action, prioritizing quick reforms over a comprehensive Bill. It does not explicitly confirm legislation for new powers against illegal operators in the current parliamentary session or outline a specific plan for self-excluded individuals.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Require the Gambling Commission to set out plans to improve black market monitoring
While the black market is a risk the Government and Gambling Commission must be mindful of, it should not deter appropriate regulation of the licensed sector. The debate about the threat posed by the black market partly stems from a …
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Government Response
The government states it is working at pace to deliver the white paper's 62 policy proposals by summer 2024, implementing reforms quickly. However, it does not specifically outline plans for improving its knowledge of the black market as recommended.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Compel operators to encourage deposit limits and mandate them for vulnerable customers
We welcome further work on proactive tools. Operators should be compelled to proactively encourage customers to set online deposit limits. Where potential harm of financial vulnerability is indicated, online deposit limits should be mandatory. (Paragraph 51) Children and young adults
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the suggestions to compel operators to encourage deposit limits and make them mandatory for vulnerable customers, responding that the Gambling Commission recently consulted on optimizing account-level tools to improve access and effectiveness of customer-led pre-commitment tools.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Proposed statutory levy structure adequately addresses land-based costs and boosts research funding.
We support the proposed structure of the statutory levy. This gives due consideration to the higher overhead costs of land-based operators and the lower rates of problem gambling associated with the sector as a whole, while also ensuring a substantial …
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Government Response
The government welcomes the Committee's support for the statutory levy's structure and reiterates its belief that the levy will provide independent, sustainable funding for research, prevention, and treatment without disproportionately impacting gambling businesses.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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23
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Develop national strategy with measurable targets to reduce gambling harms post-statutory levy.
We support the proposed governance structure for the statutory levy. However, the Government must ensure that levy funds are clearly ringfenced for the purposes of understanding, preventing, and treating gambling harm. It must also use the levy to improve the …
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Government Response
The government welcomes support for the statutory levy's structure and aims for transparent funding for research, prevention, and treatment, prioritising oversight and improved integration of services, with NICE developing clinical guidelines. While welcoming the call for measurable targets, it doesn't explicitly commit to the Levy Board developing a new national strategy with defined targets.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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24
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Gambling data remains problematic; new research must be accurate, representative, and understood.
We recognise that much of the data relating to gambling is contested, misapplied, or entirely absent, and welcome that actions from the Government’s White Paper and changes to the Gambling Commission will mean that more research evidence can be commissioned. …
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Government Response
The government welcomes the committee's support for increased investment in gambling research through the levy and reiterates its plans for the Gambling Commission and UKRI to commission timely, high-quality research to inform policy.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Correspondence 14 letters
21 May 2024
To committee
Letter from Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, relating to Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, dated 15 May 2024
Parliament page
21 Feb 2024
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Lord Foster of Bath, Chair, Peers for Gambling Reform, relating to Gambling regulation Report, dated 6 February 2024
Parliament page
6 Feb 2024
To committee
Letter from Carolyn Harris MP, Chair, APPG for Gambling Related Harm, relating to Gambling regulation Report, dated 31 January 2024
Parliament page
13 Dec 2023
To committee
Letter from Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, relating to Gambling Act Review update, dated 29 November 2023
Parliament page
12 Dec 2023
To committee
Letter from Michael Dugher, Chief Executive, Betting and Gaming Council, relating to Gambling and the Premier League, dated 16 October 2023
Parliament page
21 Nov 2023
To committee
Letter from Dan Waugh, Partner, Regulus Partners, relating to statistics on gambling and suicide, dated 28 October 2023
Parliament page
14 Nov 2023
To committee
Letter from Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive, GambleAware, relating to oral evidence, dated 10 November 2023
Parliament page
18 Oct 2023
To committee
Letter from Charles Ritchie MBE, Co-founder and Co-Chair, Gambling with Lives, relating to Gambling oral evidence, dated 30 September 2023
Parliament page
19 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Dr Jane Rigbye, Chief Executive, Ygam, relating to Gambling oral evidence, dated 14 September 2023
Parliament page
12 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, relating to oral evidence session on 5 September 2023, dated 8 September 2023
Parliament page
5 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Charles Ritchie MBE, Co-founder and Co-Chair, Gambling with Lives, relating to oral evidence follow-up, dated 15 August 2023
Parliament page
5 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, Samaritans, relating to oral evidence from Betting and Gaming Council on 11 July 2023, dated 17 August 2023
Parliament page
5 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, relating to Misuse of gambling statistics, dated 29 August 2023
Parliament page
5 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, relating to Gambling White Paper Implementation, dated 26 July 2023
Parliament page