New House of Lords group takes aim at “laissez-faire” approach to UK gambling regulation
Former gambling select committee members join forces to form new advocacy group targeting immediate regulatory reform
UK gambling operators have used regulatory inaction to exploit their customers, according to new cross-party advocacy group Peers for Gambling Reform (PGR).
The comments were made at the launch of the new body which unites House of Lords peers with gambling select committee members. PGR is aiming to encourage “urgent change” to gambling regulation in the UK.
PGR took a swipe at the industry, claiming UK operators generate 60% of their profits from the 5% of UK problem gamblers, including 55,000 young adults aged 11-16.
“Gambling operators have exploited this laissez faire regime and successive governments and regulators have failed to keep up with the revolution in UK gambling,” PGR members claimed.
The group will aim to promote recommendations identified in the House of Lords Select Committee’s gambling report released in July.
PGR’s leadership includes Lord Foster of Bath, who serves as the group’s first chair, alongside vice-chairs including Lord Smith of Hindhead, Baroness Armstrong, Lord Butler and the Bishop of St Albans.
Their priorities include the introduction of affordability checks, a testing and classification system for all gambling products and a ban on direct marketing, inducements and sports sponsorships.
The group has also called for an enforceable “duty of care” to be placed on the gambling industry to avoid harm coming to players, a mandatory “smart” levy on operators for RET and the introduction of a triennial review for stake limits.
PGR chair Foster cited the need for urgent action to address problem gambling in the UK, calling on government to act before the problem escalates.
“Online gambling companies have cashed in on the pandemic, making more profit and putting more lives at risk,” Foster claimed.
“This new group of 150 peers from across all sections of the Lords seeks to ensure urgent action is taken by the government to reform our wholly outdated regulation. It is time for action,” he concluded.