Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Second Report - Gambling regulation
Culture, Media and Sport Committee
HC 176
Published 21 December 2023
Recommendations
2
Acknowledged
Para 15
Ensure thorough White Paper consultations receive input from an appropriate range of stakeholders.
Recommendation
Though speed is a necessity, the Government and Gambling Commission must ensure that the White Paper consultations are thorough and receive input from an appropriate range of stakeholders.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need for thorough consultations with appropriate stakeholders, noting the importance of speed in implementing new protections, and states that their ongoing consultation process has already provided invaluable evidence.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4
Acknowledged
Para 25
Address unlicensed gambling sites targeting self-excluded users through new legislative powers.
Recommendation
We consider that while it will be important to monitor the size of the black market in response to greater regulation, more pertinent is the fact that, right now, a number of easily-accessible illegal sites are targeting some of those …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is working to deliver the Gambling Act review proposals by summer 2024 through various vehicles like existing powers, secondary legislation, and industry action, prioritizing quick reforms over a comprehensive Bill. It does not explicitly confirm legislation for new powers against illegal operators in the current parliamentary session or outline a specific plan for self-excluded individuals.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5
Acknowledged
Require the Gambling Commission to set out plans to improve black market monitoring
Recommendation
While the black market is a risk the Government and Gambling Commission must be mindful of, it should not deter appropriate regulation of the licensed sector. The debate about the threat posed by the black market partly stems from a …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is working at pace to deliver the white paper's 62 policy proposals by summer 2024, implementing reforms quickly. However, it does not specifically outline plans for improving its knowledge of the black market as recommended.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10
Acknowledged
Compel operators to encourage deposit limits and mandate them for vulnerable customers
Recommendation
We welcome further work on proactive tools. Operators should be compelled to proactively encourage customers to set online deposit limits. Where potential harm of financial vulnerability is indicated, online deposit limits should be mandatory. (Paragraph 51) Children and young adults
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the suggestions to compel operators to encourage deposit limits and make them mandatory for vulnerable customers, responding that the Gambling Commission recently consulted on optimizing account-level tools to improve access and effectiveness of customer-led pre-commitment tools.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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23
Acknowledged
Para 121
Develop national strategy with measurable targets to reduce gambling harms post-statutory levy.
Recommendation
We support the proposed governance structure for the statutory levy. However, the Government must ensure that levy funds are clearly ringfenced for the purposes of understanding, preventing, and treating gambling harm. It must also use the levy to improve the …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes support for the statutory levy's structure and aims for transparent funding for research, prevention, and treatment, prioritising oversight and improved integration of services, with NICE developing clinical guidelines. While welcoming the call for measurable targets, it doesn't explicitly commit to the Levy Board developing a new national strategy with defined targets.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Conclusions (3)
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 19
We welcome the forthcoming review of the Gambling Commission’s fees and the proposal to give the Commission the power to adjust its own fees annually. These will be vital to ensure the regulator is properly resourced to implement the White Paper’s reforms and respond to future developments in a rapidly …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the committee’s endorsement of the proposal to give the Gambling Commission authority to set licence fees and will continue to work on reforms to the funding framework to ensure adequate resourcing.
22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 116
We support the proposed structure of the statutory levy. This gives due consideration to the higher overhead costs of land-based operators and the lower rates of problem gambling associated with the sector as a whole, while also ensuring a substantial uplift in funding available for gambling research, prevention and treatment.
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the Committee's support for the statutory levy's structure and reiterates its belief that the levy will provide independent, sustainable funding for research, prevention, and treatment without disproportionately impacting gambling businesses.
24
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 125
We recognise that much of the data relating to gambling is contested, misapplied, or entirely absent, and welcome that actions from the Government’s White Paper and changes to the Gambling Commission will mean that more research evidence can be commissioned. It is vital that any such research is accurate, representative, …
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the committee's support for increased investment in gambling research through the levy and reiterates its plans for the Gambling Commission and UKRI to commission timely, high-quality research to inform policy.