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Select Committee · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Gambling regulation

Status: Closed Opened: 21 Dec 2022 Closed: 21 May 2024 23 recommendations 5 conclusions 1 report

MPs are to examine the Government’s approach to the regulation of gambling, following warnings that more needs to be done to protect people, including children, from gambling-related harm. The DCMS Committee inquiry will be investigating the progress the Government has made in addressing the issues raised by Parliament, how to ensure regulation can keep up …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Gambling regulation HC 176 21 Dec 2023 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
19 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Accepted in Part

Provide councils with guidance on applying cumulative impact assessments to gambling premises and review effectiveness.

We welcome the proposal to allow local authorities to use cumulative impact assessments (CIAs) in handling gambling premise licence applications. The Government must ensure councils are given guidance on how CIAs can be applied to gambling premises. It must also ensure this new power is reviewed in during the next …

Government response. The government agrees that local authorities should receive guidance on applying cumulative impact assessments (CIAs) to gambling premises, stating that primary legislation would prompt the Gambling Commission to amend its guidance.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
20 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Accepted in Part

Ensure Horserace Betting Levy settlement mitigates White Paper reforms' impact on the racing industry.

The Government must ensure that the new settlement arising from the review of the Horserace Betting Levy mitigates the impact of the White Paper’s reforms on the racing industry and ensuring British racing’s future. We support the proposal for a distinct approach gambling sports sponsorship and advertising for horseracing and …

Government response. The government has commenced the Horserace Betting Levy review to ensure appropriate funding, exploring legislative options but preferring a voluntary agreement. It notes separate measures will apply to horseracing and greyhound racing for sponsorship and advertising, with the BHA developing …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
25 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Accepted in Part

Explore conducting regular Patterns of Play-style gambling research with UKRI collaboration

We recommend that the Government and the Gambling Commission should work with UKRI to explore how a study similar to the Patterns of Play research could be conducted on a regular basis.

Government response. The government accepted the recommendation in part, stating the Gambling Commission is exploring the acquisition of a regular feed of operator data and will initiate pilot projects to obtain insights similar to the Patterns of Play research.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
28 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Accepted in Part

Expand gambling ombudsman's scope to cover all operator-customer disputes, replacing ADR providers

The intention to establish a gambling ombudsman is welcome. However, the Government will not be in a position to judge the effectiveness of the new ombudsman until summer 2024 at the earliest, assuming the process of establishing it remains on track. With the limited time remaining in the current Parliament, …

Government response. The government welcomes support for a gambling ombudsman and is working with stakeholders to ensure an independent, credible body. They plan to explore ways to require all licensees to provide access to the ombudsman for all disputes, and will legislate …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
5 Sep 2023 Andrew Rhodes · Gambling Commission, Ben Dean · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sarah Gardner · Gambling Commission, Tim Miller · Gambling Commission View ↗
18 Jul 2023 Charles Ritchie · Gambling with Lives, Dr James Noyes · Social Market Foundation, Dr Matthew Gaskell · NHS Northern Gambling Service, Professor Heather Wardle · University of Glasgow, Will Prochaska · Gambling with Lives View ↗
11 Jul 2023 John White · Bacta, Michael Dugher · Betting and Gaming Council, Miles Baron · Bingo Association, Wes Himes · Betting and Gaming Council View ↗
16 May 2023 Anna Hargrave · GambleAware, Anna Hemmings · GamCare, Matthew Hickey · Gordon Moody View ↗

Correspondence

14 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 May 2024 To cttee Letter from Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society, r…
21 Feb 2024 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Lord Foster of Bath, Chair, Peers for Gambling Reform, relat…
6 Feb 2024 To cttee Letter from Carolyn Harris MP, Chair, APPG for Gambling Related Harm, relating …
13 Dec 2023 To cttee Letter from Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, relating to Ga…
12 Dec 2023 To cttee Letter from Michael Dugher, Chief Executive, Betting and Gaming Council, relati…
21 Nov 2023 To cttee Letter from Dan Waugh, Partner, Regulus Partners, relating to statistics on gam…
14 Nov 2023 To cttee Letter from Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive, GambleAware, relating to oral evidence…
18 Oct 2023 To cttee Letter from Charles Ritchie MBE, Co-founder and Co-Chair, Gambling with Lives, …
19 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Dr Jane Rigbye, Chief Executive, Ygam, relating to Gambling oral ev…
12 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Soc…
5 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Andrew Rhodes, Chief Executive, Gambling Commission, relating to Mi…
5 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, Samaritans, relating to oral eviden…
5 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Charles Ritchie MBE, Co-founder and Co-Chair, Gambling with Lives, …
5 Sep 2023 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Soc…