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Gambling Harms
05 February 2025
Lead MP
Alex Ballinger
Halesowen
Lab
Responding Minister
Stephanie Peacock
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 15185
Other Contributors: 25
At a Glance
Alex Ballinger raised concerns about gambling harms in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The lead MP asks for stronger policy and regulatory controls that protect public health and wellbeing and prevent harm from gambling.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Around 40% of gamblers who seek treatment in the UK have considered suicide, and the Government’s own national suicide prevention strategy cited gambling as one of the six main factors linked to suicide. The story of Ben, a young man who took his life at age 19 due to gambling addiction, highlights the urgent need for further measures to address this crisis.
Abtisam Mohamed
Lab
Sheffield Central
Countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain have chosen almost full bans on gambling advertising and sponsorship. These measures are necessary to protect people, especially children. Agreed that the sector cannot regulate itself and prioritises profit over the needs of vulnerable users.
Alex Mayer
Lab
Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
Interrupted to ask a question, but was not given way by the speaking MP. Asked about the normalization of gambling through non-gambling online games that offer users a chance to win extra turns via virtual roulette wheels.
Alex Sobel
Lab/Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Supports the idea of pursuing affordability checks for online gambling companies to prevent individuals from gambling beyond their means.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Welcomes the Government’s commitment to introduce the statutory levy on gambling and sees it as vital that there are NHS services in every part of the country to support those suffering from gambling addiction.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
A constituent's 19-year-old son tragically took his own life after becoming addicted to online gambling due to advertising pressure. Problem gambling is a public health emergency that requires urgent action from all parts of government.
Discussed the economic benefits of Cheltenham racecourse while also addressing financial harms of gambling. Agrees that gambling companies should not be allowed to indoctrinate children, comparing them to fast food companies in sports sponsorship.
Chris Evans
Lab/Co-op
Caerphilly
Critiques the embedding of gambling in sports programmes and calls for stronger regulation to limit advertising and betting opportunities for young people.
Dan Carden
Lab
Liverpool Walton
Shared concerns about gambling addiction and called for reduced advertising of harmful forms. Raised concerns about horseracing and suggested looking at lotteries, pools, and sports betting differently from online forms of gambling.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Addressed the high concentration of betting shops in Brent and called for strengthened licensing powers.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Supported the call for greater powers to stop proliferation of betting shops in deprived areas, citing a University of Bristol study.
Beccy Cooper
Lab
Worthing West
As a public health doctor, she agrees with the need for population-level interventions to address gambling addiction appropriately.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
While it's important to regulate harmful forms of gambling, balance is crucial as 22.5 million people in the UK gamble safely and 42,000 are employed in betting shops.
Jim Dickson
Lab
Dartford
Prevention needs to focus on people at immediate risk and also consider our education system and services for young people. Highlights the economic and social costs of harmful gambling, noting 1.76 million participants in England with 168,000 classified as problem gamblers. Calls for a ban on all shirt advertising by gambling companies in sports.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Stressed the need for regulation to protect children from online gambling and highlighted issues in Northern Ireland. Concerned about the ease with which planning permission is granted for casinos despite community opposition, highlighting the need to manage gambling as a high-risk area comprehensively. Asked about Northern Ireland's regulation of gambling and requested the Government work with the Northern Ireland Executive.
Jo Platt
Lab/Co-op
Leigh and Atherton
Highlights the high rate of gambling harms in Greater Manchester, with one in 15 residents facing such issues. Emphasises the importance of recovery groups like GaMHive.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Agrees that stronger regulation is needed, highlighting cases where companies prey on vulnerable individuals and offer perks and freebies to draw them back into gambling.
Kevin McKenna
Lab
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
My constituent Lesley Wade shared her son Aaron’s story, illustrating how gambling addiction is often hidden from view. The online industry uses techniques that disrupt brain chemistry intentionally, making it a public health emergency needing urgent attention.
Maureen Burke
Lab
Glasgow North East
Shares a constituent's tragic story of a son who took his life due to gambling addiction, highlighting the need for action beyond consultations.
Cheltenham
Emphasised the importance of separating harmless flutters from pernicious gambling practices, noting the invasive 24/7 advertising and the need for independent oversight to protect consumers.
Louie French
Con
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Noted the economic contribution of gambling, supporting 100,000 jobs and generating £4 billion in tax revenue. Highlighted the voluntary system funding charities to support problem gamblers and pointed out that UK's problem gambling rate is relatively low compared with European countries.
Sarah Coombes
Lab
West Bromwich
Raises concerns about the rise of online gambling and calls for further safeguards to protect vulnerable players from marketing practices that can exacerbate problem gambling.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Congratulated on securing the debate and highlighted the need for better control over gambling harms. Advocated reducing online stake limits to align with betting shop limits, criticized lack of remorse in the gambling industry. Asked how the logic works on introducing a £5 stake limit for online gambling when there is a £2 limit in betting shops.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
The occasional flutter on traditional gambling should not be conflated with harmful online gambling. A statutory levy has been announced to address the issue, but it must not be controlled by those causing harm.
Sonia Kumar
Lab
Dudley
Asked about the Government's support for organisations providing residential treatment and mental health services to prevent gambling-related suicide.
Discussed her experiences with individuals and families affected by gambling harm, mentioning a visit to a Gordon Moody treatment centre.
Government Response
Stephanie Peacock
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Government Response
The Minister congratulates Alex Ballinger on securing the debate and acknowledges concerns about gambling harm prevention and treatment funding. She does not provide specific answers to the detailed questions asked but notes the need for strategic direction and accountability within the Department. Discussed the Government's position on gambling reform based on the 2023 Gambling White Paper. Mentioned affordability checks being piloted and the statutory levy review happening within five years. Emphasized working with industry to modernise regulation and protect people from harm, including new protections on marketing and bonuses. Announced new measures including a £5 stake limit on online slots to protect those at risk of gambling harm. Introduced a statutory gambling levy expected to raise around £100 million annually for research, prevention, and treatment. Addressed concerns regarding advertising impact on children and the role of coroners in assessing gambling-related suicides.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.