Labour peer: Industry at a “strange halfway house” due to affordability
Lord David Watts takes opportunity to hit out at blanket checks as he claims betting a fundamental part of British culture
The former chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party has said the industry finds itself at a “strange halfway house” amid the ongoing consultation into affordability.
Writing for PoliticsHome, Lord David Watts took the opportunity to hit out at the much-maligned proposals.
Lord Watts, who follows Conservative MP Jo Gideon in penning an editorial for PoliticsHome in partnership with the Betting and Gaming Council, said the checks could be “devastating” for the industry and UK sport.
The former Treasury head said customers had made it abundantly clear they will decline to hand over personal information in relation to financial risk checks.
This fact, he said, would result in potential black-market leakage and a lack of funding being funnelled to horseracing and sport.
Lord Watts wrote: “Neither the industry, horseracing or the government want to see punters lose unaffordable amounts or be exposed to financial vulnerability, that is why the industry proposed targeted, enhanced checks, carefully targeted on the vulnerable, if they were truly frictionless.
“However, while we wait for these frictionless checks to become reality, a strange halfway house has been created which has become a purgatory for punters.
“Without a standardised method of enforcing these checks, confusion has become rife, and punters are paying the price. If this fundamental issue is not resolved, the unintended consequence could be devastating for horseracing and the jobs which rely on it,” he added.
Lord Watts also noted the importance of the so-called Red Wall in the upcoming general election, citing betting as “culture for many of these communities”.
He proceeded to draw a link between the importance of the industry with Red Wall constituencies, insinuating an industry-positive approach will win out when the public goes to the polls.
Lord Watts remarked: “Red Wall constituencies boast major racecourses, in places like Redcar, Sedgefield and Wolverhampton, where going to the horses and having a bet is considered no different from going to the pub for a pint.
“Regulated betting and gaming also supports their communities financially.
“It’s clear, sport and betting are part of the social fabric and identity of these places, as well as major contributors to the local economy.
“Nobody thinks the Racing Post will determine the outcome of the next election, but in the scramble for every last vote, the government would be a fool to ignore racing punters when the public go to the polls,” he concluded.