- Katie Lazar
- culture editor
image source, Getty Images
Proposals are expected to include checks for gamblers who lose over £1,000 a day
Gamblers losing £1,000 a day are expected to face checks as part of stricter gambling regulations.
Sources say these activate when a gambler loses £1,000 in 24 hours or £2,000 in 90 days. It’s still unclear how these will run.
Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser, who later outlines the plan in Congress, says the rise of smartphones means “every phone has Las Vegas now.”
Fraser said her “balanced” proposal still allows people to enjoy flutter.
The announcement of what the government’s white paper actually contains has been delayed at least four times since the revision of the gambling law was first announced by then-Cultural Secretary Oliver Dowden in 2020.
Individual cases of problem gamblers have been reported regularly since then, but the government’s solution has never seen the light of day and was crafted by three different culture secretaries and three prime ministers. .
Frazer believes he now has a proposition suitable for the digital age.
“With the rise of the internet and smartphones, gambling has become ubiquitous and not just on high streets, with betting accessible 24 hours a day.”
Describing the “maze” of sports betting, virtual slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables readily available in many apps, she added: Not for everyone. ”
For those addicted, she points out that smartphones are a trapdoor to despair, and the government’s new approach “protects the most vulnerable, but doesn’t get in the way of the majority of people who want to flutter.” not. “.
One of the known proposals is a mandatory tax imposed on gambling companies to use to pay for addiction treatment and research.
However, it is not yet clear how the funds will be managed.
The crusaders and gambling companies we spoke to don’t believe much will change when it comes to advertising and marketing.
This is a huge disappointment for athletes who feel it is rampant in the sports world.
Other planned changes have been strongly welcomed by lawmakers who have lobbied for reform.
Peers for Gambling Reform chairman Lord Foster said they were “an important step in the right direction”.
Ian Duncan-Smith, a Conservative MP and deputy chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling-Related Harm, said: “We will ensure that the government remains on its feet so that these measures can be implemented swiftly.” said.
Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser will release the government’s white paper on gambling on Thursday.
The white paper will include the introduction of affordable checks to protect problem gamblers.
The government will also discuss introducing wagering limits for online slot bets, which are digital versions of old slot machines.
The range is believed to be £2 to £15, with lower levels suggested for those under 25.
Some gambling companies such as Flutter, which owns Paddy Power, SkyBet and Betfair, have imposed a £10 slots limit from September 2021.
A mandatory tax on gambling companies is expected to be 1% of net income and could raise £140m a year for education, treatment and research.
At this time the tax is voluntary and the NHS is not funded.
The NHS has expanded its gambling-focused services in recent years.
The plan, as we understand it, is to use some of the money raised from the new taxation for future NHS treatment.
image source, Getty Images
Online slot games are designed to mimic slot machines in betting shops
We also believe that this white paper will relax some rules for brick-and-mortar casinos, leveling the playing field between physical and online betting.
For example, at the moment, smaller casinos have a limit on the number of machines they can own. That number is expected to grow from 20 to 80.
A DCMS spokesperson said, “We are committed to protecting those most at risk of gambling-related harm, including young people and vulnerable people.”
Annie Ashton’s husband Luke committed suicide in 2021 after losing money online and struggling with a gambling addiction.
“We are waiting for the government to introduce some regulations to make it safer for those who decide to gamble,” Ashton said.
“This white paper took too long. Any changes need to focus on preventing suicide and harm.”
Michael Dugher, chief executive of the Betting and Gaming Council, told the BBC that they have been working closely with the government.
“We would like to see a balanced, balanced and effective reform…without compromising the enjoyment of the vast majority of people who gamble completely safely and responsibly.
“The changes should also help protect the jobs and economic contributions of the UK’s world-leading regulated industries.”
