Gambling White Paper on digital gambling published
2023
The Government’s long-awaited whitepaper regarding high-stakes gambling in the digital age has been presented to parliament by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP. A link to the white paper can be found below.
The paper includes tougher gambling regulations, which are designed to be triggered when a gambler loses £1,000 in 24 hours, or £2,000 over 90 days, however, the paper is not yet clear on how these checks will be carried out. The paper does include the introduction of affordability checks to protect problem gamblers.
The government said it will consult on introducing stake limits for online slot bets. The range will be from £2 to £15 and they said they will also consult on specific measures to give greater protections for 18 to 24-year-olds, who may be a particularly vulnerable group.
Frazer informed parliament:
"When gambling becomes an addiction, it can wreck lives. Shattered families, lost jobs, foreclosed homes, jail time, suicide.
"These are all the most extreme scenarios. But it is important we acknowledge that for some families those worst fears for their loved ones have materialised."
"Gambling problems in adults have always been measured in terms of money lost, but you cannot put a cost on the loss of dignity, the loss of identity, and, in some cases, the loss of life that it can cause.
"We need a new approach that recognises a flutter is one thing, unchecked addiction is another. So, today we are bringing our pre-smartphone regulations into the present day with a gambling white paper for the digital age."