Gambling Minister: Gambling reform is “undoubtedly long overdue”

Gambling Minister Chris Philp has promised to “act quickly” to put measures in place to prevent gambling-related harm.

Speaking at the Gambling Reform Rally organised by the Gambling Related Harm APPG, Philp reiterated the fact the industry need to face reforms and that the Gambling Act 2005 failed to foresee the explosion of igaming.

He said: “We know that the gambling landscape does need reform – significant reforms – as it is now significantly different from the last time our gambling laws were comprehensively reviewed. Reform is undoubtedly long overdue.

“Internet gambling didn’t really exist in 2005. We now have evidence, including a Public Health England report, which identified 409 gambling suicides a year. It is imperative that we respond to that. Change is certainly needed,” he added.

This change may not be as fast-moving as campaigners are hoping for. Despite Philp’s commitment to altering the legislation, he promised a “balanced and proportionate” approach which would take in evidence.

He said: “People are being exposed to risks in an unreasonable way, led down what can be a very dark path. So we are going to act, and act quickly. We’ll do it in a way that is balanced and proportionate, that is led by the evidence. But we’re going to act, and act quickly.”

The MP for Croydon South also addressed how the industry should be using data to create a safer environment for people.

Philp said: “One of the things I’ve spoken about previously is the role that technology and data can play in preventing harm from arising because the big gambling companies have enormous troves of data which they use very effectively for the purposes of cross-selling and encouraging people to gamble more

“One [way] is the single customer view, which is where there is a process of data sharing, and secondly, affordability checks. We’re clear that we’re not going to rely on self-regulation.

“There are definitely levels of more significant gambling losses where proper checks should be done. That is the kind of intervention we’re looking at, in a way that is proportionate and balanced,” he added.

Philp went on to say that operators are “failing to meet their duties to protect people” and cited recent examples of fines handed out by the UK Gambling Commission, including the £9.4m fine given to 888 for social responsibility and money laundering breaches.

Philp ended his speech by saying that preventing gambling-related harm is a much better solution to the problem than finding a cure.

He said: “Prevention is a lot better than cure, which is why we do see this as a public health issue and why we do have, and should have, controls that protect everyone who chooses to gamble – through the licensing regime to regulation to technical standards.”