Government must tackle gambling advertising, say MPs

The Health and Social Care Committee has raised the alarm over the serious harm caused by gambling, and warned the Government must take stronger action to protect vulnerable people.

In a letter to the Department of Health and Social Care, Committee Chair Layla Moran MP urged the Government to reassess the Gambling Act 2005, following the Committee’s recent evidence session on gambling-related harms.

A growing prevalence among young people

The Committee heard extensive evidence pointing to the widespread normalisation of gambling, particularly among young people.

For example, they highlighted that while 80% of the UK population is exposed to gambling advertisements weekly, such ads remain unregulated before the 9pm watershed.

They were also concerned about gambling sponsorships of sports teams and events, calling for tighter restrictions on advert content to ensure it does not appeal to children and young people.

Impact on problem gamblers

The Committee heard evidence from experts how “intrusive and targeted some gambling promotion has become” - citing examples of people being offered free bets in the middle of the night. This has led to people experiencing gambling-related harm feeling "there is no escape" from gambling.

Given that there are 117 to 496 gambling-related suicides every year in England, the Committee asked the department how its preventative approach to gambling-related harms will align with the 2023 National Suicide Prevention Strategy which named gambling as one of 'six factors linked to suicide at a population level'.

To ensure the scale of gambling-related harm is accurately recorded, they also called on the Government to take steps to ensure coroners are properly trained to identify suicides where this is the cause.

Gambling levy isn't working to prevent harm

While current preventative efforts rely solely on the gambling levy, the Committee felt this was not working and must be backed by stronger regulation.

“Regulation should reflect the fact that some forms of gambling are more harmful than others, taking a risk-based approach that subjects the most addictive and dangerous products to tighter control. This should happen alongside regulation that focuses on protecting vulnerable people", Ms Moran said.

Ms Moran concluded by stating that the Government must review the Gambling Act to ensure it provides the necessary legal powers for agencies to deliver a comprehensive, system-wide response to gambling harms.