According to recent media reports, the UK Government has proposed to put off the planned overhaul of the country’s gambling industry. This, however, has fuelled anti-gambling campaigners’ concerns that the postponement could result in more negative consequences for problem gamblers and even to suicide.
The gambling laws review has been part of the 2019 general election manifesto of the Conservative party, which used it to respond to the increasing concern of local politicians, anti-gambling campaigners and civil society groups about the regulation of the British gambling industry that is estimated at approximately £14 billion every year.
The UK Government has been expected to publish its white paper before the end of 2020 but the process was delayed to 2021.
Now, The Guardian reported that, according to a number of sources familiar with the situation, a second delay is very likely to take place. This basically means that the country’s Government would probably not publish its proposals for the long-expected overhaul of the sector until after a separate decision regarding the new holder of the next 10-year operating licence of the UK National Lottery. That decision is expected to be announced in February 2022.
The possible delay of the overhaul proposal announcement, however, has been found extremely concerning by some anti-gambling campaigners. One of the founders of the charity organisation Gambling With Lives pointed out that recent research has suggested strong links between gambling addiction and suicide and further noted that any delay of the planned changes in the regulation of the sector could have a negative impact on the individuals who find it hard to control their gambling habits.
UKGC Decision on the UK National Lottery Licence Could Precede the Long-Awaited White Paper
As Casino Guardian reported a week ago, the charity Gambling With Lives launched a campaign calling for the Government to initiate an investigation into every case of gambling-related suicide. According to the group, the review process had gone on for too long and any further delay of the overhaul would seriously affect more individuals and their families.
Carolyn Harris, who is a Member of Parliament from the Labour Party and currently chairs a cross-party group on gambling-related harm also said that the review process has taken too long to complete. She reminded that the initial commitment of a gambling laws reform was made by the UK Government in 2019 and 2 years later little has been done to provide the necessary level of regulation of the online gambling sector, while people are still being harmed.
The delay of the long-expected review of the gambling legislation and regulatory rules is partly attributable to a ministerial reshuffle involving John Whittingdale, who was considered too friendly towards the gambling industry, and made way for Chris Philp. About a week ago, Mr Philp noted that the white paper would be published in the next few months. At the time, he explained that the Government was considering stricter measures on the sector to be imposed, including the implementation of tough mandatory affordability checks aimed at preventing problem gamblers and vulnerable people from being affected by gambling-related financial problems.
As mentioned above, when it comes to the completion of the UK Government’s review of the gambling sector, the ongoing competition for the new 10-year National Lottery operating licence is considered an important factor. The competition process is being run by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which currently regulates both the entire gambling industry and the lottery, in particular. The gambling regulatory body is expected to announce its decision in February 2022.
The Guardian reported that, according to a source familiar with the matter, the decision of the UKGC on the National Lottery operating licence was likely to be announced first to clear the way for the Government to publish the white paper.
- Author
Daniel Williams
