Gambling Review White
Paper
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
(Lab)
3. When she plans to publish the gambling review white paper.
(Midlothian) (SNP)
7. What her time- scale is for publishing a gambling review white
paper.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport ()
I know that both Members have taken an active involvement in this
issue and, like all the House, are looking forward to seeing the
outcomes of our Gambling Act 2005 review. It remains a priority
for the Department, and we will publish a White Paper setting out
conclusions and a vision for the sector in the coming weeks.
We know that the Department has considered gambling-related harm
to be a public health issue and preventing harm is an essential
objective of gambling regulations, so may I gently press the
Minister to confirm whether key public health-based reforms, such
as a smart statutory levy, the introduction of online stake
limits, an effective affordability assessment and controls on
gambling advertising, will be included in the forthcoming White
Paper?
I know how passionately and seriously the hon. Gentleman takes
this issue, as do we on this side of the Chamber. That is why the
review was comprehensive and covered many, if not all, of those
areas that he mentioned. I ask him to be slightly patient,
because we will be responding to the review in due course.
Many countries are ahead of the UK in regulating loot boxes and
video games and require games to display the odds of receiving
certain loot in the box items. It is essential to ensure that we
are not subjecting players to blind gambling, yet Diablo
Immortal’s “rift” feature finds a loophole apparently in this,
and is essentially a loot box that is contingent on skill-based
gameplay. The skill-based element means it is not technically
gambling and does not have to display odds, but it is a loot box.
Will the Minister commit to exploring in the gambling review how
to close that loophole, and will the Department meet with the
game developer Blizzard to discuss how to close the loophole in
Diablo Immortal?
Again, this is a topic that has consumed the attention of the
whole House. The gambling review was looked at separately from
the specific issue of loot boxes, where we recognise there are
also issues and concerns, and we have been conducting a review. I
reassure the hon. Gentleman that protecting children, both on
loot boxes and in the gambling review, is front and centre of our
thoughts.
(Romsey and Southampton
North) (Con)
It is not just children who can be impacted by loot boxes and
other gambling mechanics; it is also people with other
vulnerabilities. It is critical that the Government take
effective steps to close loopholes, and do not just bake in the
problem for ever more creative tech companies to exploit.
My right hon. Friend makes an important point about ensuring that
the review we conduct and the conclusions that come out of it are
comprehensive, but it is important, as technology evolves and
changes, and becomes ever more sophisticated—as it does,
particularly in the online gambling and gaming space—that we keep
a close eye on developments, and we will be doing that going
forward.
(North Swindon) (Con)
I thank the ministerial team for their continued good work.
Specifically on fixed odds betting terminals, would it not be a
pragmatic and sensible consideration to display the average
return rate for five seconds at the beginning of play, so that
users can make an informed decision to weigh up enjoyment against
the likely returns?
My hon. Friend makes an important point. The White Paper will be
looking at those issues, and the Gambling Commission of course
looks at those kind of issues on an ongoing basis. He raises
important points about targeting, in particular of the most
vulnerable in society, and it is something of which we are very
aware.
(Swansea East) (Lab)
One could be forgiven for failing to notice a news article
yesterday regarding No. 10 policy advisers who have links to
gambling companies. It would be unforgiveable, however, if either
of those advisers had attempted to influence the White Paper in a
way that could be considered to favour the industry. Can the
Minister assure the House that that is not the case?
I appreciate the hon. Lady’s passion and commitment on the
subject; we have had many conversations. She will be aware that
we have engaged extensively with stakeholders in the course of
the gambling review.
(Tewkesbury) (Con)
When the Government publish the White Paper, which I very much
look forward to, will they ensure that it makes it clear who will
be responsible for the issue of affordability—the Government or
the Gambling Commission?
Again, I cannot pre-empt the conclusions of the review, but my
hon. Friend makes an important point. The Secretary of State in
particular is aware of that and we will be communicating more in
due course. Affordability is an important point.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Manchester Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
I am not at all surprised to see the Secretary of State still in
her place; I had no doubt that she would be the last woman
standing in support of the Prime Minister while all around her
collapses, including her ministerial team. I wondered whether, by
this morning, she would hold not only all the ministerial offices
in her Department but several other Cabinet posts as well.
For many months, we have heard that the gambling White Paper is
imminent. It has still not been published, although its content
has again been trailed to the news- papers. Apparently, Ministers
are dropping the gambling levy, which has widespread support, and
other measures that would bring the analogue gambling regulation
into the digital age. Is that true?
No.
Well, we now know from the former gambling Minister, the hon.
Member for Croydon South (), that the White Paper is with
No. 10 for sign-off—good luck with that. We have also been
promised the media Bill, a White Paper on football regulation, a
review of women’s football, a review on the future funding of the
BBC, and a data Bill—all before the summer recess. How is that
going? The truth is that we have chaos, paralysis and a total
collapse of Government, with huge swathes of vacant ministerial
posts and parliamentary business on hold. Is it not the reality
that not just the Prime Minister has lost the country’s trust,
but the entire Conservative party?
Mr Speaker
This is about the gambling review, and the question should be
about that. The Minister should answer on the gambling review.
I hope the hon. Lady will wait to respond to the gambling review.
I appreciate her giving a comprehensive list of all the policy
areas and manifesto commitments on which the Government are
committed to delivering. She could have gone further and
mentioned safe standing, the delivery of the Commonwealth games,
which start in three weeks’ time, or the Euros—well done to the
Lionesses for last night. I thank her for giving a list of the
Government’s achievements.
Mr Speaker
I also do not want the Minister to wander off topic. Let us go to
someone who will put us back on track—John Nicolson, the SNP
spokesperson.
(Ochil and South Perthshire)
(SNP)
In what could be our last exchange across the Dispatch Box, I
recognise that the Secretary of State cannot bind the hands of
her successor, but as we move away from post-truth politics and
culture wars, perhaps she can leave doing some good. The lottery
is the country’s principal gambling addiction. For most, it is
innocent fun; for some, it is a problem—an affliction. The now
resigned tech and digital Minister, the hon. Member for Croydon
South (), confirmed to the hon. Member
for Cardiff West () at the Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport Committee this week that tickets can be charged
perfectly legally to credit cards, building up huge debts. When
Camelot is replaced, can that be reformed?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for the final part of his comments and
for drawing attention to the fact that we constantly review the
lottery. We have made significant changes over time, such as to
the age limit for who can play it. As he is aware, people can use
a credit card if the ticket is bought with other shopping. That
is the norm in many other countries, but we constantly review
those exact areas.
