House of Commons Committee publishes report on gambling regulations
The report touches upon several issues, including gambling advertising, ombudsmen and deposit limits.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMSC) from the House of Commons has published a report on gambling regulations.
This has been collated from formal meetings and input from industry professionals in response to the progress the White Paper has made since dropping earlier this year.
The primary issue the CMSC has is the pace at which consultations and changes are happening, considering that the proposals are meant to go live this coming summer.
The paper explains: “It is welcome that the Government and Gambling Commission are proceeding with the various consultations on the White Paper at pace, but delivering its main proposals by summer next year will be challenging and at risk from wider political events.
“We are concerned that no mention of gambling legislation was made in the King’s Speech.
“In its response to this report, the Government must set out a detailed timetable for the delivery of the White Paper’s proposals, including when relevant primary legislation will be introduced to Parliament.”
The CMSC also challenged the Gambling Commission on the fact that people who have self-excluded from gambling sites can still easily access black market casinos.
In a similar vein, the paper also recommends that: “Operators should be compelled to proactively encourage customers to set online deposit limits.
“Where potential harm of financial vulnerability is indicated, online deposit limits should be mandatory.”
When it comes to potential harm, the CMSC also wants there to be a greater focus on particular groups.
The paper explains: “The Government must commission independent longitudinal research on the link between gambling advertising and the risk of gambling harm, including specifically for women and children.”
The final point in the paper is the concern over a gambling ombudsman.
In accordance with laws, an ombudsman can only be called such if they adhere to industry standards.
The CMCS questions whether a suitable body with high enough standards could be in place by the summer of 2024.
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