Information has emerged that the Labour Party may ban the use of credit cards for gambling activities as part of the Government’s crackdown on the industry. If the Government proceeds with the measure aimed at tackling constantly increasing gambling addiction rates, this would affect billions of transactions which are carried out in the industry on an annual basis.
As revealed by The Guardian, deputy leader Tom Watson is to publish the conclusions of the Labour Party’s year-long gambling regulations review by the end of the week. The full list of proposals is expected to be published as early as tomorrow. As mentioned above, they would probably include a blanket ban on the use of credit cards in gambling services as part of the local authorities’ efforts to minimise gambling-related harm and prevent UK players from generating greater debts due to their gambling habits.
Mr. Watson told The Guardian that using credit cards to place wagers “allows people to bet more than they can afford”. He further noted that it also has a particularly big influence on gambling addicts.
The Labour Party is expected to publish its policies proposals aimed at helping the competent authorities reduce the number of gambling addicts in the country only days before the start of its annual conference in Liverpool. Official data provided by the main gambling regulatory body has shown there are currently at least 430,000 problem gamblers in the UK.
Delighted that @tom_watson will be speaking at @LabourCycles meeting at Liverpool, 3pm Sunday at RIBA alongside @Heidi_LDN and @RachaelMaskell What a line up!
— Wolmar's London (@wolmarforlondon) September 17, 2018
According to a report by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), between 10% and 20% of the online gambling operators’ annual deposits, or up to £8.6 billion, are made by British players using credit cards. No estimates were available in the gambling watchdog’s report in terms of casinos and high-street bookmakers.
More Anti-Gambling Proposals Could Be Underway
Earlier in 2018, the UK Gambling Commission revealed that it would consider the pros and cons of a possible ban on credit card betting. The major charity which is focused on helping problem gamblers in the country, GambleAware, has provided its support for the measure.
After a review carried out in collaboration with Jon Ashworth, the shadow health and social care secretary, Mr. Watson has expressed his utter surety that the Labour Party would manage to impose a ban on the use of credit cards for gambling transactions. He has already promised that gambling operators would be suspended from signing football kit sponsorship deals. Considering the afore-mentioned review, speculations emerged that the Labour Party could make a proposal for placing new limits on the number of gambling adverts aired at the time of live sports events.
As previously revealed by Casino Guardian, the viewers of the 2018 World Cup in the UK were exposed to a massive number of gambling commercials during the tournament, which prompted concern about the possible impact on under-aged viewers.
- Author
Daniel Williams
