Labour proposes new levy on bookies to fund problem gambling treatment
RGA accepts current responsible gambling efforts may need reform if senior politicians have “lost faith”
The UK Labour Party has revealed plans to impose a new compulsory levy on bookmakers with the proceeds going towards treatments for gambling addiction.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson said the levy would specifically fund NHS treatment in an effort to end the “destructive cycle of addiction”.
He also hit out at firms for not sufficiently funding GambleAware, which asks for voluntary donations of 0.1% of profits.
“So my message to gambling firms today could not be clearer: stop targeting vulnerable people. Start acting responsibly,” Mr Watson will say in a speech today.
“And meet your obligation to help those whose lives been blighted by addiction.”
GambleAware said it should have received around £13m last year if operators donated the suggested amount, but only received £8m.
Gambling companies who sponsor 7 premier league team shirts for £34m, have donated JUST £100 to @BeGambleAware @tom_watson #LAB17 @IPPR
— GambleAware (@gambleawaregb) September 25, 2017
Tom Watson’s speech, to be delivered at Labour’s Brighton conference today, is a response to an alleged growing number of UK problem gamblers which Labour says has risen by a third in the last three years alone.
Statistics published in August by the Gambling Commission suggested that the number of British “problem gamblers,” had risen from 280,000 to 430,000 between 2012 and 2015.
However the same report warned that the rate of problem gamblers had remained statistically stable.
Labour also pledged earlier this month to tackle the “hidden epidemic” of gambling addiction by banning betting firms from sponsoring football shirts.
The Association of British Bookmakers has said it would not oppose an “appropriate, compulsory levy” to fund problem gambling treatment, while the Remote Gambling Association told EGR it was “‘not opposed in principle to the introduction of a statutory levy”.
The group added: “Combating gambling related harm is a priority for our sector and we look forward to seeing details of Mr Watson’s proposals.”
RGA chief executive Clive Hawkswood also played down GambleAware’s fundraising issues, adding: “We should not forget that the vast majority of companies have contributed faithfully for many years and there would have been be little if any specialist support for problem gamblers without that.
“We do not agree that GambleAware and the voluntary system it oversees has necessary failed, but it would not be sensible for us to ignore the concerns that have been expressed. If senior politicians such as Mr Watson have lost faith in GambleAware’s ability to fulfil its purpose then everyone should take note of that.”
Hawkswood also pointed out the wide range of other responsible gambling projects the industry is funding directly, including the nationwide self-exclusion programme, as well as individual projects like Kindred funding a problem gambling treatment app, Mr Green launching a self-assesment tool, and Sky Bet partnering with William Hill to find new ways to identify problem gambling behaviour.