Time Extended for Gambling Industry to Weigh in on Proposed Changes
Extension of Consultation Period for Review of Gambling Act White Paper
The British government has granted the local gambling industry an additional two weeks to contemplate the array of statutory alterations suggested by the Gambling Act Review White Paper.
After a prolonged wait and speculation, the Conservative Party administration, fronted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, disclosed the findings of their review into the regulations of the Gambling Act of 2005 in April. This comprehensive review encompassed proposals for introducing new affordability checks, stake limits, advertising restrictions, and a mandatory levy to fund research, education, and treatment (RET) programs.
New Deadline
Initially, the land-based and online gambling industry was asked to submit feedback on these suggestions ahead of a September 20 deadline. However, the Gambling Commission regulator later announced that it had made an error in calculating an important problem gambling rate. Consequently, the deadline has been extended to October 4.
Gambling Commission's Error
The calculation error concerned a rate that the Gambling Commission utilizes to gauge the effectiveness of local operators' responsible gambling initiatives. This figure aids the national regulator in determining which verticals pose a higher risk for those susceptible to gambling addiction.
The consultation published by the government in April, following consultation with the Gambling Commission, had claimed that the gambling addiction rate for slot players aged 16 to 24 stood at a staggering 1.5%. However, this high percentage was later discovered to only apply to male gamblers, and the overall rate was found to be 0.8%, a 0.2% decrease compared to the findings of a 2018 National Health Service survey.
Improved Gambling Addiction Rates
In their request for more time to compose their responses to the anticipated Gambling Act of 2005 modifications, the British industry also drew attention to the overall decrease in the UK's gambling addiction rate, which dropped from 0.04% in 2018 to 0.02% in 2021.
Upcoming Election and Potential Policies
The gambling landscape of the United Kingdom may face further turmoil as the nation prepares to hold a general election sometime next year. Certain analysts predict that the Labour Party, under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, could clinch a victory and potentially abandon the sector's planned overhaul in favor of a more lenient approach.
- The gambling industry in Britain was granted an extension until October 4 to respond to the proposed statutory changes outlined in the Gambling Act Review White Paper, due to an error in calculating a problem gambling rate by the Gambling Commission.
- The error concerned a rate that the Gambling Commission uses as an indicator to assess the effectiveness of local operators' responsible gambling initiatives, particularly in determining the risk posed to those susceptible to gambling addiction.
- In their request for more time, the industry also acknowledged the improvement in the UK's gambling addiction rate, which dropped from 0.04% in 2018 to 0.02% in 2021, potentially impacting the upcoming general election and potential policies regarding the gambling sector.
