Posted on: March 31, 2022, 05:46h.
Last updated on: March 31, 2022, 12:42h.
The anticipated updates to gambling laws in the UK are almost ready for presentation. The government is wrapping up its white paper, adding a few “finishing touches” before it publishes its new plans.
The UK Parliamentary Undersecretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nigel Huddleston, has stated that the long-awaited white paper on gambling reform is almost ready. He made his remarks to Parliament as the topic of an “urgent need” for revised laws once again became the center of attention.
Huddleston explained that the government is finalizing the white paper and is adding a few “finishing touches” before it presents the document. He wouldn’t say what the white paper will include but explained that many of the recommendations it received over the past few years made it into the final draft.
The UK constantly updates, changes and amends its gambling laws. However, this is the biggest reformation in well over a decade that has been in the works for years. Government leaders and gaming regulators initially thought they would have a white paper ready at the end of 2020. Instead, they delayed the process after appointing a new gambling minister in Chris Philp.
It was then thought that the new laws could surface in 2021, but that time frame changed. Ahead of the new projected deadline this May, the government is almost ready to present the country’s revised gambling regulations.
UK Gambling Reform Almost Complete
One item the parliamentarian revealed relates to affordability checks. The contentious topic appears to have swung in favor of those looking for strict controls.
Huddleston hinted that the financial services sector might play a larger role in the gambling industry, indicating that the single-customer view some lawmakers asked for survived. With this, operators would have access to all the spending data of their customers.
[A single-customer view is] increasingly necessary, given that the average online gambler now has three accounts, and those with a gambling disorder typically have far more,” said Parliamentary Undersecretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nigel Huddleston.
However, there will be some limitations. Affordability checks will allegedly be “proportionate” to the activity. What this means for different components of the gambling industry won’t be clear until the white paper arrives.
Gambling Reform to Remain Fluid
Huddleston broached the subject of taxes and gambling industry contributions to the economy. Although the reform will provide significant concrete approaches to market control, there is also some flexibility in future revisions.
Lawmakers could determine that the current taxes and voluntary contributions system is insufficient. As a result, they could implement a “statutory levy.”
Operators already deliver billions of pounds in tax revenue to the UK and millions more in contributions to groups like Gamble Aware and others. However, the government may want more.
During the parliamentary gathering, the subject of advertising came up as well. Some lawmakers would like to see a complete ban on all gambling advertising. However, Huddleston prefers to apply common sense.
He said advertising could help licensed gambling operators distinguish themselves from the black market. He added that it also provides financial support for broadcasters, sports, and television.
Huddleston pointed out that operators must be responsible in advertising and that the government is committed to combating aggressive practices. To that end, the Committee for Advertising Practice will update advertising rules, which it will present shortly.
The government’s white paper will be released in the coming weeks. The industry is anxiously waiting to see what is coming.