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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
12 Conclusion Second Report - Gambling regulation Deferred

Ensure enhanced young adult gambling protections do not encourage false age declarations

We support the proposed introduction of enhanced online gambling protections for young adults aged 18–24. The Government, Gambling Commission, and gambling operators must ensure these measures do not unintentionally lead to more adults in this age group giving a higher age at account-creation. (Paragraph 65) Gambling advertising

Government response. The government's response details new powers for the Gambling Commission to tackle illegal online gambling sites targeting self-excluded individuals, via the Criminal Justice Bill and collaboration with Google, but fails to address the recommendation regarding enhanced online gambling protections for …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
13 Conclusion Second Report - Gambling regulation Deferred

Commission independent longitudinal research on gambling advertising link to harm, including for women and children

There is an urgent need to better understand the effects of gambling advertising on the risk of harm. The evidence for a link between advertising and gambling harm currently appears much stronger than evidence indicating there is a risk of displacement to the black market if gambling advertising were restricted. …

Government response. The government deflected the recommendation, focusing its response on measures to tackle the illegal online gambling market, including new powers for the Gambling Commission and delisting illegal sites from Google, rather than commissioning research on gambling advertising and harm.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
16 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Deferred

Require sporting bodies to publish the gambling sponsorship code without further undue delay.

The publication of the Code has been delayed repeatedly which is highly regrettable. The Government should require the relevant sporting bodies to publish the Code, incorporating the committee’s recommendations, without further undue delay. (Paragraph 86) Land-based gambling

Government response. The government's response discusses financial risk checks in gambling and the Gambling Commission's upcoming consultation response on this topic, completely ignoring the recommendation to require sporting bodies to publish 'the Code'.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
17 Recommendation Second Report - Gambling regulation Deferred

Ensure customers can continue using cash payments on electronic gaming machines after cashless introduction.

We support the introduction of cashless payments for electronic gaming machines, provided they are subject to an equivalent level of friction to cash payments. We recommend that customers who prefer to pay on electronic gaming machines using cash should continue to be able to do so on all machines following …

Government response. The government welcomed the principle of financial risk checks and committed to a proportionate system, stating the Gambling Commission will publish its consultation response and pilot enhanced risk assessments. It did not directly address the recommendation regarding cashless payments on …
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…