The select committee of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has released the written evidence provided by industry stakeholders as part of the UK Government’s review of the country’s gambling regulation.
As Casino Guardian reported, in December 2022, the Committee announced that it intended to examine the Government’s approach to gambling following some calls that more has to be done to protect Brits from gambling-related harm. Previously, several government bodies, including a House of Lords committee, the National Audit Office, and the Public Accounts Committee, have called for the competent authorities to make more efforts to battle the spreading of gambling addiction and gambling-related harm. At the time, both the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) faced a wave of criticism for not doing enough to protect local gamblers against the potential negative effects of gambling.
As a result, the committee is set to investigate a number of issues associated with the regulation of the local gambling industry, such as technical development in the sector, the relationship between gambling and sport, as well as the progress made by the UK Government in addressing the issues that have already been raised in Parliament.
At the time when the committee was formed, Julie Elliott MP shared that gambling remained an enjoyable pastime for many Brits but the country’s regulation of the sector is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly changing conditions in the sector. Ms Elliott MP explained that such rapid development and lack of adequate regulation put people at risk of suffering extremely high levels of harm that could even lead to suicide.
UK Government Expected to Announce the Results of Its Gambling Act Review “Shortly”
The inquiry into the UK Government’s approach to the gambling sector is currently being conducted amid the ongoing review of the country’s Gambling Act of 2005.
The next stage in the process will see the Government issue a White Paper that will serve as a policy document recommending a bunch of specific proposals in terms of the gambling policy. As Casino Guardian reported, the report has already been delayed several times but the UK Government shared that it is expected to be released shortly.
The country’s gambling regulatory body, on the other hand, provided an overview of the UK regulatory environment. It also called for an answer to some of the questions posed by the committee. The UKGC also answered in detail to the question of whether it is possible for a watchdog of its calibre to stay in line with the latest innovations in the online gambling sector. The Gambling Commission shared that the pace of change in the industry creates new opportunities, but that also means that risks are also rising, along with the number of regulatory challenges.
The gambling regulator of the UK also took into account the way in which the relationship between gambling companies and their customers has changed as a result of technological developments and warned that it could affect young and vulnerable people who get access to online gambling products and advertisements in various online spaces such as social media platforms. The UKGC is trying to stay in line with the constant transformation of the online gambling sector, so it established a special Digital Advisory Panel that would advise it on emerging trends and developments.
- Author
Daniel Williams
