Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, asked the UK Government in DCMS Questions for assurance that the forthcoming gambling White Paper will ensure online stakes are introduced at the same level as offline stakes.
This follows Public Health England’s recent report into gambling related harm, which found at risk gamblers are twice as likely to gamble online than the rest of the general gambling population.
Carolyn, as Chair of the APPG for Gambling Related Harm, has campaigned for urgent reform of our gambling laws for a number of years. Carolyn and the APPG for Gambling Related Harm have previously called on the UK Government to introduce stake limits for online gambling to create parity with physical gambling venues, including a £2 stake on harmful slot content.
Earlier this year, submissions closed for the UK Government’s Gambling Review, with a White Paper on gambling expected later this year.
Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East, said:
“It’s been incredibly worrying to see gambling on the increase during the pandemic, particularly online. The latest Public Health England report shows just how urgently we need to make protections for online gamblers the same as those offline to protect the most vulnerable.
“I was pleased to hear the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of DCMS recognise the increased risk of online gambling for at risk gamblers, and confirm the UK Government would look into applying restrictions introduced to physical gambling premises stakes for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals online.
“This could have a really significant impact on protecting vulnerable people so I will continue to push the UK Government to take stronger action on gambling related harms online, as they can and must do so much more.”
