Covid-19: Vulnerable Online Gamblers
(Makerfield) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the
gambling industry on protection of vulnerable online gamblers
during the covid-19 outbreak. [901870]
(Barnsley East) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with representatives of the
gambling industry on protection of vulnerable online gamblers
during the covid-19 outbreak. [901880]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport ()
I have had calls with the Betting and Gaming Council and gambling
businesses, including five of the largest online operators. On 20
April, I wrote to the gambling companies urging faster progress
on new player protection measures, data protection provisions and
safer gambling messaging, and I understand that the industry made
an announcement on advertising today.
I will be having further calls this week and next and will
continue to make it clear to the sector that it must obey player
protection rules and be particularly responsible at this
challenging time. I am monitoring the situation closely, as is
the Gambling Commission. Any operator exploiting the current
situation or vulnerable consumers will be held to account.
[V]
It is welcome news about the advertising, but a high number of
people have withdrawn from the self-exclusion scheme—[Inaudible.]
What actions are being taken to monitor this and how will people
be protected who have previously identified that they have a
gambling problem but who have recommenced gambling during this
period?
I assure the hon. Lady that I, the Department, the Gambling
Commission and the gambling industry take these concerns very
seriously. She will be aware that we have extended the
comprehensive online self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP, and taken
additional measures, including that made on credit cards just
this month. We are moving forward with both non-legislative and
legislative programmes.
[V]
Last year, the Government announced that they had launched a
consultation on the national lottery age limit, which allows
16-year-olds to buy scratch cards and gamble online. Did the
Government consult on this and will they introduce national
lottery regulations in line with those on all other UK gambling
businesses, to protect young people from gambling-related harm?
We did look at this issue and we will be making an announcement
in due course.
(Ochil and South Perthshire)
(SNP) [V]
Estimates indicate that as many as 200,000 people in Scotland are
problem gamblers. Last week, a Survation poll showed an apparent
fall in part-time gambling as a result of the coronavirus
lock-in, perhaps masking more intense betting among problem
gamblers. In the absence of sporting fixtures, many are turning
to riskier products, such as online casino games—advertising for
these has been ramped up by betting companies during lockdown,
which of course is shameful. Will the Minister call on gambling
companies to provide clear and prominent covid-19 addiction
warnings on betting site pages and will he impose an ongoing
suspension on gambling advertising beyond the end of the current
lockdown period?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for those comments. Of course, we are
all aware that problem gambling can have a devastating impact on
those affected and their families. We take the issue very
seriously indeed. Although I welcome the current movements from
the industry—it has come up with plans—we have also asked it to
offer shared data in a more meaningful manner, so that we can
make educated choices. We have also announced a review of the
Gambling Act 2005 and will in due course make more announcements
about the scope of that review for potentially more comprehensive
measures.
