Culture Secretary speaks ahead of the publication of the gambling
white paper.
"Good afternoon everyone,
And I wanted to start by thanking Liz and Charles for inviting me
to speak at this event and thank you very much for your very
powerful speech.
You have both been, as many of you have been in this room,
tireless and devoted champions in this area, and I know Gambling
with Lives does incredibly valuable work to support families in
this room but also who are across the country.
Shortly after I was appointed I read your response to the call
for evidence and I was struck by the harrowing stories of people
like Robert and Fred, whose lives were ruined by gambling, and as
a mother I can’t begin to imagine the grief and sense of loss of
all your families.
And though I’ve only been Culture Secretary for three weeks,
meeting all of you and hearing your experiences was one of the
first things I wanted to do in this role.
Because it’s so important to hear directly from families who have
been touched by these issues, and I really value your input when
looking at gambling reform.
So thank you, Liz, thank you Charles, thank you everybody - and
I’m really pleased that your hard work was honoured in the New
Year Honours List.
I have also read the House of Lords report on Gambling Harm Time
for Action and I recently met with the lived experience advisory
panel. I heard some really moving stories and I am struck by how
diverse their experiences were.
One person had lost over £1 million. Another never bet more than
£1 on a spin.
One young man had started gambling at the age of eleven. Many
tried to self exclude but found the enticements drawing them back
in just too difficult.
I also wanted to say that I know it must be very frustrating to
have yet another ministerial team leading the government’s work
on gambling, and I know that you might be worried about further
delays to the white paper.
So let me reassure you that White Paper is an absolute priority
for me, and for the Prime minister, and we are committed to
publishing it soon.
But I do want to give these issues justice and take some time to
make sure that I do meet with you and others to really understand
the issues. I am particularly conscious of the vulnerability of
young people.
And of course you know very well, gambling doesn’t just destroy
the lives of the gamblers themselves, it has a devastating impact
on their loved ones.
The Review of the Gambling Act is an opportunity to make the
changes we need, and to make sure we have the right protections
in place for the digital age.
Nearly every area of gambling policy is in scope, and I want to
make sure your views are heard and reflected.
I am also conscious there are a variety of views on the way
forward.
Of course, the White Paper when it is published will not be the
last word on reform. I’m really keen to keep talking to you all,
and to make sure we understand the drivers of gambling harm and
how we can protect the public.
So thank you so much for everything you’ve done so far.
And for everything I’m sure you’ll continue to do in the months
and years to come."
