Draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 Draft Gambling Levy Regulations 2025 Debate

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Department: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Draft Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 Draft Gambling Levy Regulations 2025

Cameron Thomas Excerpts
Wednesday 29th January 2025

(1 week, 2 days ago)

General Committees
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Cameron Thomas Portrait Cameron Thomas (Tewkesbury) (LD)
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The Liberal Democrats support the regulations. The stake limit will help to address gambling-related harm associated with online slots, which have rapid, repetitive play patterns and high average losses per customer. It reflects a commitment to tackling problem gambling and is a progressive step in the right direction, strengthening player protection.

Combating problem gambling is a topic the Liberal Democrats have campaigned on consistently. It is a serious public health issue, and it is vital that we take robust action to mitigate the risks. According to the latest Public Health England report on gambling, approximately 246,000 people are problem gamblers and 2.2 million are at risk.

The introduction of the statutory levy is a welcome step, as are the regulations, but I urge the Government to go further. We urgently need action to tackle pervasive gambling advertising and sponsorship. We also need action on black market gambling, and we need gaming products such as loot boxes to be regulated as gambling products to protect children from gambling harms.

Fundamentally, we need a commitment from Government to treat the issue as the public health issue it clearly is. That was the approach agreed in the 2023 White Paper, and it must give primacy to protecting the public from gambling harms. My party has also called for the remote gaming duty to be doubled, and I urge the Government to look carefully at that proposal.

It is evident that urgent action is needed, and the regulations are an important step forward. Therefore, the Liberal Democrats support them.