Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the regulated gambling sector in West Sussex.

The Department believes a well-regulated gambling sector is essential if customers are going to gamble with licensed operators and not unregulated ones, where appropriate protections are not present.

Sussex is home to a range of retail gambling operators, as well as online operators, and horse and greyhound racing venues. These provide many specialised jobs and play an important role in local communities. While most gambling policies are not place-specific, the Department recognises that there are regional differences across the gambling landscape and we believe that the people closest to where impacts are experienced can be best-placed to make decisions. In the summer the Prime Minister announced plans to give local authorities more powers over individual licensing decisions by revoking the ‘aim to permit’ principle, and DCMS will publish a consultation in this area in due course. We also recognise the importance of amusement piers and arcades in providing low-risk leisure venues for families, and in supporting the local economies of seaside towns such as those found in Sussex. To support the Family Entertainment sector, DCMS has consulted on the stakes and prizes for the Category D gaming machines found in these venues. A response to the consultation will be published in due course.