Gaming Machines

Lord Hughes of Woodside Excerpts

Tuesday 12th September 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, the noble Lord has misunderstood several things. First, the Chancellor has said publicly that he fully supports the work of the DCMS to ensure that the UK’s gambling regime continues to balance the needs of vulnerable people, consumers who gamble responsibly and those who work in this sector. Of the 2.38 million who are at risk, 1.4 million are at low risk, and I completely understand the noble Lord’s point about 430,000 problem gamblers being 430,000 too many. That is exactly why we are having the review, which we hope will be published soon. We will then be able to do something about it, depending on what the options are.

[Lord Hughes of Woodside (Lab)]

In his Answer, the Minister referred to October. October of which year?

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

Actually, I said not before October, and I meant 2017.