Govt considering levy on betting companies as CARE urges action

The UK government is considering a statutory levy on betting companies as part of promised gambling reforms, the Sun newspaper has said.

If agreed to, the measure would see a percentage of gambling companies' profits taken each year to fund treatment and research on gambling addiction.

Other measures reportedly being considered by ministers include new restrictions on underage gamblers, and the end of betting ads on football shirts.

In a speech to gambling industry representatives yesterday, Culture Minister Paul Scully MP said that the government will make “common sense changes”.

CARE has criticised the government for repeatedly delaying a promised white paper setting out its reforms, which was supposed to be agreed in 2021.

Successive Prime Ministers have kicked the plans into the long grass, amid stiff industry lobbying, whilst the scale of gambling-related harms continues to grow.

Tim Cairns, CARE's policy expert on gambling, stressed that the welfare of millions of people depends on fast, and significant action by the government:

"We welcome this indication that a statutory levy is to be included in the government's white paper, but the British public have waited far too long for action on this issue.

"As many as two million Brits are addicted to gambling, or at risk of developing an addiction. One suicide happens in the UK every single day. We're in a public health emergency.

"Ministers have a moral duty to act quickly, and introduce significant curbs on the betting industry, which is wreaking havoc on our society. Our laws are sorely out-of-date.

"We call on the government to bring forward its plans, and include a levy, restrictions on betting ads, measures to protect children and other measures campaigners have asked for."

A government spokesman added: "Gambling is enjoyed safely by millions of people, but for a minority, it can cause significant harm and lead to devastating consequences.

"It's absolutely vital to look carefully at the details, so the proposals both protect the most vulnerable but equally are proportionate, and we make no apologies for taking the time to get this right."