Peers for Gambling Reform urge Labour to introduce mandatory levy

Responsible Gambling

Labour has been urged to commit to the Conservative Party’s previous promised £100 MILLION gambling levy. A white paper containing proposals to reform the 2005 Gambling Act was introduced by the Conservative government last April. 

“For years, the gambling industry exerted influence over the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm by providing inadequate funding through a voluntary system,” they said. Writing that they were “deeply concerned by the delay to enact a statutory levy”, the letter’s signatories called on the government to press on with it.

In its manifesto, simply titled Change, Labour said it would proceed with reforms to the gambling sector. The manifesto states: “Labour is committed to reducing gambling-related harm. Recognising the evolution of the gambling landscape since 2005, Labour will reform gambling regulation, strengthening protections. We will continue to work with the industry on how to ensure responsible gambling.”

Michael Dugher, the chief executive and acting chair of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and a former Labour MP, said: “We welcome Labour’s general election manifesto and its commitment to continue working with the industry to further drive up standards. BGC members are currently undergoing the biggest regulatory changes in a generation following the publication of the white paper, which Labour supported, and much of this work will be ongoing after the general election.

“This is also backed up by the industry’s significant efforts to continue to drive world-class standards and protections for the vulnerable, which has transformed the sector in recent years and stands in marked contrast to the dangers posed by the unsafe, unregulated black market online.

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