Gambling Laws

Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about our current gambling laws and the related ‘Clean Up Gambling’ campaign.

I share your concerns about the adverse impacts of gambling and the risk to young and vulnerable people. I can assure you I support firm action to tackle problem gambling.

As you will know, the Government launched its review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December 2020, and the call for evidence closed on 31 March 2021. It previously said it aimed to publish its conclusions by the end of last year. Following delays, we still do not know when these conclusions will be published. When they are, I hope the points raised by the ‘Clean Up Gambling’ campaign will be very carefully considered.

I welcome the review as where a harm is clear, the Government has a duty and responsibility to tackle it. However, I am disappointed that it took more than a year for the review to be launched. I am concerned that since then more people have suffered from gambling related harm without getting vital support.

I am concerned about the lack of regulation for online gambling. We clearly urgently need new, fit-for-purpose legislation to address online gambling issues including affordability checks, reduced stakes and restrictions on multiple accounts, advertising and targeted communications. The legislation must keep up with the changing nature of gambling online and in smartphone apps and I hope that the Government uses this opportunity to try to anticipate future changes in technology.

I support a regulated and safe gambling industry both for the industry itself and for those who are at risk from gambling-related harm. I believe bans on gambling advertising and VIP accounts and the introduction of online stake limits are overdue, and that age verification options must be seriously considered.

I also believe that the law should be approached from a public health perspective to protect children and vulnerable adults whilst allowing others to gamble safely.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. I can assure you I will continue to press for action that will have the biggest impact on reducing the harms and the misery associated with problem gambling.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP