Key points:
- MPs have requested a review of the Gambling Act to improve protections against gambling-related harms
- The Committee has called for stronger regulations on gambling advertising, sponsorship and data collection
The Health and Social Care Committee has written to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), outlining measures to address gambling-related harms. The letter follows consultations with experts and calls for changes in several areas including regulation.
The letter follows an evidence session on 2 April and a meeting with Gambling with Lives on 22 April, where experts discussed the impact of gambling on health.
The letter references 117 and 496 gambling-related deaths annually in England. MPs have called for a review of the Gambling Act to ensure the law addresses gambling-related harms effectively.
The Committee has also highlighted concerns over gambling advertising, with 80% of the population exposed to such advertisements weekly. MPs have recommend limiting gambling ads before the watershed and restricting sponsorship in sports.
In terms of treatment, the Committee has raised questions about the future of specialist gambling treatment services following NHS England’s abolition. MPs have called for clarity on which body will take responsibility for treatment commissioning.
Good to know: The Committee has recommended that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) launch a public information campaign to raise awareness of gambling-related risks
The formal letter stated: “Regulation should reflect the fact that some forms of gambling are more harmful than others, taking a risk-based approach that subjects the most addictive and dangerous products to tighter control.”
The Health and Social Care Committee added: “We do not see how OHID can effectively develop a strategy to prevent gambling-related harms without considering the regulation of advertising and broader commercial practices of the sector.”
