The Government’s gambling reforms are ‘vague’ and ‘disappointing’, according to the representative body for directors of public health.
Announced today, the reforms include a mandatory levy on betting firms to pay for treatment of addiction, new player protection checks and stake limits for online slots.
The Gambling Commission will also be given extra powers to enable it to tackle black market operators through court orders and work with internet service providers (ISPs) to take down and block illegal gambling sites.
It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 problem gamblers in the UK.
Culture secretary Lucy Frazer said: ‘We live in an age where people have a virtual mobile casino in their pockets. It has made gambling easier, quicker and often more fun, but when things go wrong it can see people lose thousands of pounds in a few swipes of the screen.
‘So we are stepping in to update the law for those most at risk of harm with a new levy on gambling operators to pay for treatment and education, player protection checks and new online slots stake limits.’
The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) described today’s white paper on gambling reform as ‘vague’ and ‘disappointing’, and urged the Government to ‘up the ante’.
Greg Fell, ADPH vice president, said: ‘It is very disappointing that the Government has largely ignored the advice of public health experts in developing these proposals.
‘Instead of looking to target individual gamblers, we need to look at the role that society and the gambling industry is playing in causing gambling harm and taking steps to limit it.’
Mr Fell welcomed the extra powers for the Gambling Commission but said there was ‘still far too much dependency on the industry regulating its own activity, particularly with marketing.’
The gambling industry currently spends around £500 million every year on marketing.
Mr Fell continued: ‘The fact that children are being exposed on a daily basis to harmful gambling products, means that we are creating a society where people are increasingly engaging in activities that can have very real – and very harmful – consequences.
‘Today’s announcement does nothing to stop this happening. What’s needed is a comprehensive ban on all forms of marketing across multiple media and community channels.’
