Senior Tory hits out at 'arrogant' betting companies

A senior Conservative politician has hit out at "arrogant" betting companies and called for the introduction of a new Gambling Act "fit for the new digital age".

Iain Duncan-Smith, a former party leader and Work and Pensions Secretary, told GB News:

"We do have a whole chain of abusive behaviour by the gambling industry, and in the pursuit of their profits, what they have done is literally used those who should least be used, those with a gambling problem”.

Pointing to the existence of VIP rooms where the most addicted gamblers get to meet celebrities, and to the £2.5 billion spent by the industry on advertising, Mr Duncan-Smith said:

"The gambling companies are behaving in a very arrogant manner. They think of their ability to make huge profits, regardless of the effect on those that are most affected, and that is a problem that will get worse, particularly amongst young people”.

Pushed on whether calls for greater restrictions are unfair, he added: "It is not anti gambling. It is just saying: get some control back, so these gambling companies don’t have it all their own way”.

In recent weeks, gambling industry representatives have increased calls on Ministers to abandon plans to enact tougher regulation of betting in the UK. A whitepaper setting out reforms is expected in May.

James Mildred, Chief Communications Officer at CARE, said:

“The predatory gambling industry knows its time in the sun is coming to an end with desperately needed measures to curb betting and protect vulnerable people in the offing.

"As a result, it is stepping up attempts to hole plans for gambling reform below the waterline. Ministers must not kowtow to this cynical lobbying. It is driven by greed, not by genuine concern for the welfare of punters.

“Gambling related harms have skyrocketed in the UK, particularly in the wake of online betting. Addiction leads to physical and mental health problems, family breakdown, domestic abuse and even suicide.

"Current laws are hopelessly out-of-date, and regulation is simply not fit for purpose. Ministers must listen to those who have suffered and are suffering and enact a wide suite of measures to bring the betting industry to heel.”