Ministers have come under severe criticism for failing to introduce a ban on gambling advertising after the Government announced the biggest shake-up of the gambling industry in 15 years.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer published the long-delayed Gambling White Paper, which will toughen up the regulation of an industry that has been transformed by the arrival of the smartphone.
Under the proposals that will now go out for consultation, punters will be subject to a series of financial checks to prevent major losses, a new levy will be introduced on industry revenues, while maximum stakes on slot machines and curbs on the speed of online casino games will also be introduced.
The measures mark a significant overhaul of the gambling industry, which has been held responsible for a major increase in addiction and suicides.
Unveiling the plans in the Commons, Ms Frazer said the white paper will seek a “balance between allowing people to go about their lives who are not suffering harm, at the same time as protecting those people who are, unfortunately, harmed”.
“We will look very carefully at any further research that comes out and would take action if that was necessary,” she added.
But campaigners and MPs from across parties have criticised the Government’s failure to introduce tougher measures to curb gambling advertising.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the plans do “not go far enough” particularly in regards to children being exposed to adverts, and he urged the Government to abandon the consultation and push ahead with implementing the reforms.
“I’m worried about the advertising,” he told ITV. “Because the advertising is what gets the younger people, kids, particularly the boys, but now more and more girls, to start thinking that gambling regularly is a good thing.”
While the Premier League has voluntarily banned betting firms from sponsoring the front of football shirts, the measures do not come into effect for three years.
SNP MP Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) told the Commons: “If the adverts do harm, they’ve all got to go, all shirts, all round the stadium, all round the pitch, in between games, on the television, on the radio. If advertising does harm, all advertising has to go.”
Campaign group GambleAware branded the decision not to bring in tougher curbs on advertising and marketing as a “missed opportunity”.
The group’s chief executive Zoë Osmond: “Almost half (45 per cent) of 11–17-year-olds are exposed to gambling marketing on social media each week. Our research shows that increased exposure to gambling can influence attitudes towards gambling and the likelihood of gambling participation in the future, which in turn comes with an increased risk of harm.”
Pressed on why the Government had refused to put a ban on gambling adverts, Gambling Minister Stuart Andrews said the new levy will allow the Government to do more research on issues, such as banning advertising.
“We’ll also have a look at what the impact of some of the bans in other countries has done. Initial ones show that, actually, the rates of gambling haven’t fallen as a result of advertising and banning,” he said.