A House of Lords committee has called for a widespread overhaul of gambling regulation, including a sponsorship ban, stricter affordability checks and a compulsory levy to fund treatments for problem gamblers.
The hard-hitting report entitled Gambling Harm – Time for Action, launched today by committee chair Lord Grade of Yarmouth, produced a wide range of recommendations while pressing for “urgent action” from the UK Government.
Lord Grade stated: “Gambling related-harm has made the lives of two million people miserable. It leads to hundreds of people each year taking their own lives, leaving families and friends devastated.
“The behaviour of some gambling operators, where vulnerable people were targeted with inducements to continue gambling when the operators knew they could not afford to, shocked the Committee.
“Lax regulation of the gambling industry must be replaced by a more robust and focussed regime which prioritises the welfare of gamblers ahead of industry profits.
“Addiction is a health problem which should be treated by the NHS and paid for by gambling industry profits. The Government must impose a mandatory levy on the industry. The more harmful a gambling product is, the higher the levy the operator should pay.
“Only time will tell if the harm caused by gambling has been exacerbated by the coronavirus lockdown.
“Our report makes some 66 recommendations which we believe will begin to the address this huge problem.”
Among the huge list of recommendations are a call for the Gambling Commission to create a system to test all new games for indicators including addictiveness; a new system whereby online casino games must be slowed down; the formation of a new independent Gambling Ombudsman Service to settle operator-customer disputes; a ban on operators advertising on sports kits or inside venues; and a call for the NHS to open its promised 15 new problem gambling clinics by 2023, with more to follow.
Other recommendations include Gambling Commission licences for affiliates and a raising of the minimum age for playing the National Lottery from 16 to 18.
