Delay to gambling reform ruining lives

Press Release: Countless lives are being ruined because of government inaction on gambling, CARE has warned, as it emerged a long-awaited whitepaper has been delayed for a second time.

At the weekend, government sources told The Guardian that a landmark review of gambling laws, promised two years ago, will not be published until May.

It was supposed to be published before the end of 2021 but was pushed back to ‘early 2022’ at the end of last year. MPs fear Govt infighting may be frustrating the process.

The review is expected to recommend significant changes to Britain’s gambling laws for the first time since the Gambling Act 2005, which significantly relaxed rules.

Addiction charities and campaigners believe the Gambling Act is not fit for purpose, especially given endemic online gambling. They highlight huge harms in society in making the case for reform.

Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, which has more than a decade of experience lobbying for gambling reform and was instrumental in setting up self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP, said:

“The government’s further delay to the long-awaited whitepaper is disastrous to those who need support and protection. It was promised at the end of last year. For each month it is held back, much-needed reforms are blocked, leading to continued and serious harms to individuals across the UK.

“Tens-of-thousands of people are locked in betting addiction today. This manifests in depression, alcohol and drug use, debt, homelessness, unemployment, and even suicide. The government must recognise that lives are being ruined every day it fails to act.

“The sheer scale of harms results from our permissive laws, which fail to hold the betting industry to account and protect the most vulnerable. Ministers must publish their whitepaper now, allow parliament to do its work, and see the changes so many are asking for become a reality.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

A review of evidence on gambling-related harms by the UK Govt (September 2021) found:

• The annual economic burden of harmful gambling is approximately £1.27 billion.
• The overall estimated excess cost of health harms is estimated to be £961.3 million.
• Financial harms focused on homelessness is estimated to be £62.8 million
• The estimated excess cost of suicide is £619.2 million
• The estimated excess cost of depression is £335.5 million
• The estimated excess cost of alcohol dependence is £4.7 million
• The estimated excess cost of illicit drug use is £2.0 million
• The excess cost of employment-related harms is estimated to be £79.5 million

See: Gambling-related harms evidence review: summary - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Delay confirmed

UK government review of gambling laws now not expected until May | Gambling | The Guardian

About CARE

CARE is a well-established mainstream Christian charity providing resources and helping to bring Christian insight and experience to matters of public policy and practical caring initiatives.

CARE’s work on gambling

CARE was among the first policy charities to support legislation to curb the maximum stake on highly addictive FOBTs, a campaign which ultimately succeeded when the curb was introduced. It was instrumental in seeing GAMSTOP set up, a one-stop multi-site exclusion tool. It also submitted a comprehensive response to the Govt's review of gambling laws based upon more than a decade of experience in this policy arena.

For interview requests or more information please contact Jamie Gillies: jamie.gillies@care.org.uk