Poll: Does the industry need a responsible gambling levy?
This week we ask whether Labour’s tax proposal is the right way to manage alleged growing numbers of gambling addiction
Last week, the Labour party revealed its aim to impose a compulsory levy on operators to fund NHS treatment for gambling addiction.
Deputy party leader Tom Watson told the Labour Brighton conference the tax was a response to recent Gambling Commission statistics that said the number of problem gamblers in the UK had risen 280,000 to 430,000 between 2012 and 2015, although the report also stated the rate had remained statistically stable.
The Association of British Bookmakers and the Remote Gambling Association both said they were not opposed to the introduction of the levy but the RGA also pointed out the significant contributions already made by the industry to this area.
Big firms already pay a percentage of profits to GambleAware, while also funding the forthcoming 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.
GambleAware, however, argues it’s still underfunded.
With this is mind, this week we ask whether Labour’s responsible gambling tax is needed to enhance the industry’s efforts, or whether it’s another unnecessary burden?
Have your say below:
Poll: Does the industry need a responsible gambling levy? context: https://t.co/fn6uJbJ4AI
— EGR Global (@EGRIntel) October 2, 2017