To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of taking a public health approach towards problematic gambling and the way in which relevant support is accessed.
Answered on
15 September 2021
The government views gambling-related harm as a public health issue. Gambling legislation and the requirements placed on operators by the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission, are intended to offer a wide range of protections, from those which make gambling safer for the population as a whole, such as controls on gambling products, to tailored protections for groups such as children and specific targeted interventions and support for those at most risk of harm. We are reviewing the Gambling Act to ensure that the protections in place are appropriate for the digital age.
In 2019, the government secured a commitment from industry to contribute £100m over four years to problem gambling treatment, alongside NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care continuing their work to improve and expand specialist treatment services. Up to 15 new clinics are set to open by 2023/24, 3 of which are already in operation.