Agenda item

The Chair introduced the report which updated the Board on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) review of the Gambling Act 2005.

The Chair invited Tom Oldfield, Head of Online Gambling Policy and Susan Harling, Head of Land-based Gambling, Department for Culture Media and Sportto introduce the review.

Tom explained that the current Gambling Act was published in 2005 and implemented in 2007, with significant changes in gambling patterns since necessitating an update of the Act. With the rise of smart phones and increase of online gambling, the update would ensure the existing regulatory framework is fit for purpose in the digital age and continues to meet its aims which are; to protect children and vulnerable people, prevent gambling related crime, and keep gambling fair and open.

Tom highlighted six key areas of focus:

·       online protection – players and products

·       advertising, sponsorship and branding

·       the Gambling Commission’s powers and resources

·       consumer redress

·       the protection of young people – e.g) age limits and verification

·       land based gambling.

Tom explained this was a wide-ranging review with the call for evidence to be used to inform proposed changes to the Act expected to be set out in a white paper next year.

Tom put forward four key questions likely to be of specific interest to the Board:

·       Whether changes to casino regulations via the Act had met their objectives for the sector, in terms of supporting economic regeneration, tourism and growth while reducing risks of harm?

·       Whether licensing and local authorities have enough powers to fulfil their responsibilities in respect of premises licenses and the objectives of the Act?

·       Whether to moderately increasing the default number of category D and C gaming machines permitted in alcohol licensed premises?

·       Whether current measures for preventing children accessing land-based gambling were sufficient?

Following the presentation, the Chair invited Cllr Kate Haigh, one of the Board’s licensing champions, to offer a perspective on the LGA’s response. Kate commented that this was a welcomed review of the Gambling Act 2005, which the Board had taken a keen interest in. The Board had recognised gambling harm as a significant factor in, poor mental health, debt, crime and sometimes suicide. She highlighted that there was scope to increase of inspection and enforcement in some areas but highlighted the important role of the Gambling Commission’s regional compliance officers in supporting activity smaller councils undertaking less regular gambling compliance work. There was a need for stronger public health presence and Public Health England (PHE) were in favour of treating this as a direct public health issue with more needed to be done to support families with young children, past treatment, vulnerable groups.  She noted that collecting evidence of harm can be difficult but that councils are often in the frontline to try to do this.

Kate mentioned she had recently attended the Peers for Gambling Reform group, which was in favour of stronger measures around restricting advertising, sponsorship, stake limits, loot boxes, affordability and the appointment of an ombudsman.

Following the discussion, Members made the following comments:

·       Members raised that there were enormous gambling incentives being offered to people, and that COVID-19 will increase the impact of this, with many people at home suffering from stress, loss of jobs and boredom, posing a significant risk.

·       Members commented that ‘loot boxes’ on online gaming platforms were targeted at children and caused significant harm to young people and children, suggesting that local authorities should look at tackling this through public health, education and providing support through school services.

·       Members commented that gambling has been a longstanding issue within sports, particularly within football, almost all football matches advertise betting and gambling organisations, as well as with broadcasting.

·       Members raised that people were able to set up numerous accounts with different betting bodies which none were linked, causing massive debts.

·       Member asked for further clarification on the role of the Ombudsman and what would be the impacts and outcome of the role.

·       Members expressed that a clearer understanding of the issue at a regional or local level is needed.

·       Members commented that in some local authorities betting shops had been converted to gaming centres, in which only 20% of the machines can be category D but there is no limit in number of machines.

·       Members raised that there was an increase in online gambling heavily glamorised by endorsing celebrities to target and lure in younger audiences.

·       Members commented that cumulative impact policies can work well if there is buy in.

The Chair thanked Tom, Susan and Kate for their contributions to the review.  She summarised that councils have an important role on this issue, which needed to cover public health and the impact of online gambling.

Decision:

Members of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board noted the report.

            Actions:

·       Officers to develop a draft response to DCMS’s review of the Gambling Act 2005, for sign off by Lead Members.

·       Officers to consider including; enforcement role within local authorities, public health support for those who are vulnerable and educating children on online gambling and gaming platforms in draft response.