Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure measures to reduce the number of High Street bookmakers does not lead to an increase in online gambling harms.

As part of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, the Government has now introduced Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs). While the introduction of GIAs will strengthen local authorities’ powers to shape their streets and neighbourhoods, including the ability to put a presumption in place against the opening of new gambling premises, they will not be applied retrospectively and existing premises, including bookmakers, will not be affected.

The Government recognises that land-based gambling typically has a lower risk profile than online gambling. The Government is continuing to work with the Gambling Commission and the sector to strengthen player protections across the sector, both online and in physical venues, to ensure that people can continue to enjoy gambling, without the harms that can sometimes ensue.