MP’s receive £100k worth of gifts from gambling firms ahead of gambling law review. 

More than 30 MPs received gifts totalling more than £100k from various gambling agencies ahead of a landmark review of UK gambling laws, it has emerged.

Two Tory members, David Warburton MP and Laurence Robertson MP, also accepted tickets to the Brit Awards courtesy of the Betting and Gaming Council – the betting industry’s self-regulating body.

This has spiked public interest as just hours before, in a Commons debate, Mr Warburton and Mr Robertson warned against any curbs to the industry.

Labour MP John Stellar was also amongst those to voice opposition stating that any reforms must ‘continue Britain’s attractiveness’ as a casino destination.

Stellar accepted hospitality tickets worth £1,961 for the England v Germany Euro match by Power Leisure Bookmakers last year, as well as tickets worth £874 for England’s Test match against India, courtesy of the Betting and Gaming Council.

MPs involved in an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on gambling were also the beneficiaries of a number of gifts from gambling companies.

Vice Chairman Aaron Bell, who used to work for Bet365, has since left the APPG after a report he endorsed criticised the gambling regulator for going beyond its remit in trying to reduce addiction.

Commenting on the situation, Matt Zarb-Cousins, director of Clean Up Gambling, said: “This is a case of how to buy a few friends in Parliament and alienate everyone else. Legislators should think twice about accepting hospitality from a sector that derives the majority of its profits from people experiencing harm.”