UK parliamentary committee examines gambling harm prevention measures
The meeting marked a key moment in the Government's ongoing efforts to understand and mitigate the negative effects of gambling on public health.
Key points:
– Witnesses discussed the way that online gambling has transformed the industry’s landscape, creating more accessible and intensive gambling opportunities
– Conversations covered the issue of people in deprived areas facing disproportionate gambling-related harm
– Experts call for greater data sharing from gambling companies to identify potential harm earlier
A hearing on gambling-related harms was held by the Health and Social Care Committee on 2 April 2025, bringing together public health officials, academics and regulatory bodies to examine the changing gambling landscape and potential interventions.
Experts highlighted the significant transformation in gambling products since the Gambling Act 2005, particularly the rise of online gambling.
Professor Heather Wardle from the University of Glasgow noted that gambling products have become more intensive and accessible, stating: “Since the Gambling Act 2005, we have seen the massive growth of online gambling and the intensification of products; they are available through smartphones 24/7, and the speed and the intensity of the products have sharpened.
“Previous products, such as sports betting, were essentially one-off events, but that is now transformed into continuous formats, through the in-play betting, for example.”
Professor Sam Chamberlain of the University of Southampton described the extensive impacts of gambling disorders and linked this to the new age of gambling products, adding: “I would highlight what we see clinically, with patients often reporting online gambling as a problem because the products are so intrusive.
“They could be sending people messages in the middle of the night – with free bets and money. Over time, there is this tendency towards more addictive products in general.”
The committee also heard evidence about health inequalities, with witnesses noting that people in the most deprived areas are more likely to participate in gambling and face disproportionate harm.
Good to know: Lucy Hubber, Director of Public Health for Nottingham, stressed the importance of moving beyond treating individuals with diagnosed gambling disorders to understand gambling as “an addictive and increasingly normalised behaviour causing a lot of harm.”
The hearing also discussed the way that local authorities face significant challenges in regulating gambling premises. Professor Wardle described “systemic power imbalances between local authorities and the gambling industry,” noting that authorities often “run out of resources because they do not have the money to pay the legal costs and fight it in the magistrates court.”
When questioned about industry self-regulation, Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones was direct: “I do not think industry can self-regulate on any level because the financial interest is too great for them to do the right thing at every opportunity.” In response, Tim Miller from the Gambling Commission stated: “It would be wrong to suggest that this is a self-regulated industry, but there are absolutely opportunities where industry can go beyond the set standards.”
Additionally, witnesses discussed the upcoming statutory levy on gambling operators, which will fund prevention, treatment and research. Andrew Vereker from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities expressed hope that this would enable a shift from treatment to “upstream interventions” to reduce harm.
Another key area of debate was the role of data in combating gambling harm. Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones argued for greater transparency, suggesting that gambling operators should be required to share anonymised data.
This data could help identify at-risk individuals before they suffer significant financial or emotional harm.
On this theme, Bowden-Jones stated: “I think the best thing this country could do is to move to an open data source – one that is anonymised, so that you end up only requesting it if you feel that it is important for the harm of an individual.”
Looking to the future, Bowden-Jones went on to add: “We are now in a position to deliver evidence-based treatment to everyone who needs it – no postcode lottery – with a focus on those groups who will need it more.”
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