Today, a white paper was unveiled that marks the conclusion of an extensive process dating back to 2020. In her address to Parliament this morning, Lucy Frazer, secretary of state for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), underscored the white paper’s emphasis on enhancing player protections. The proposals include more stringent affordability checks and increased funding for research, education, and treatment of gambling-related harms.
Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, acknowledged the white paper as a "step in the right direction" for preventing gambling harm. However, she pointed out that the absence of regulatory measures concerning marketing and advertising represented a significant "missed opportunity."
The review’s marketing regulations focus on improving safer gambling messaging and allowing customers to opt into online gambling promotions. Osmond stressed that, following multiple delays in releasing the white paper, swift action is crucial to ensure that the outlined measures are promptly implemented, especially as many are still subject to further consultation. She expressed concern that a lack of stronger regulations on gambling advertising particularly endangers children.
Charles Richie MBE, co-founder of Gambling With Lives, echoed these views, advocating for a total ban on all gambling advertisements. He called for preventative affordability checks for individuals whose losses exceed £100 a month and emphasized the need for increased safety measures for high-risk gambling products, such as lowering stake sizes and reducing play speeds. "Only then will we be able to see a real reduction in the deaths caused by gambling," he asserted.
Paul Buck, CEO of Epic Risk Management, acknowledged the release of the Gambling Act Review white paper as a positive step but noted the ongoing challenges in fully regulating the gambling landscape in the digital age. He welcomed the white paper while recognizing it as just the beginning, anticipating another two to three years of discussions before achieving a safer gambling environment in the UK. "Today’s white paper still has plenty of work to do to iron out the details on key areas," he remarked.
Buck expressed particular satisfaction with the proposals for stake limits on slot games. The white paper details that the DCMS will set a stake limit on slots and consult on whether this limit should range between £2 and £15 per spin. Additionally, there will be discussions regarding specific limits for those under 25 years old. "We particularly welcome the suggestion of differentiation of stakes on online slots for under 25s, providing further safeguards for the youngest members of society once they are legally allowed to bet – it is a step in the right direction," he noted.
Lebby Eyres, CEO of The Health Lottery, also commended the measures aimed at protecting children from gambling harm. She emphasized support for the government’s goal of restricting children's access to gambling products. Eyres highlighted that while the National Lottery's minimum age was recently raised from 16 to 18, society lotteries were not mandated to follow suit. Nonetheless, she stated that The Health Lottery voluntarily raised its age limit to 18 for all retail products in September of last year, reflecting their commitment to responsible play and the protection of minors.
