UKGC targets “lasting impact” with new national problem gambling strategy
Commission pledges firm regulatory enforcement with operators that goes beyond “simply counting problem gamblers”
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) has officially unveiled its new three-year National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, aiming to “drive and coordinate work to bring a lasting impact on reducing gambling harms”.
As part of the new strategy, the UKGC aims to deliver on two strategic priority areas – prevention and education and treatment and support.
Under the area of prevention and education, the UKGC aims to make significant progress towards a clear public health prevention plan which “includes the right mix of interventions”. Its treatment and support aim will offer “truly national treatment” and support options which meet the needs of users.
The UKGC also pledged to take a “firm regulatory enforcement approach” while also improving gambling harms research and evaluation so that there is “a widespread adoption of what works”.
It will also explore the establishment of a new National Research Centre and work to build a National Data Repository for research purposes.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Sport Mims Davies said the UKGC’s strategy “reflects our clear expectation” that the whole UK gambling sector must come together to reduce problem gambling.
“Through increased research, education and treatment I want to see faster progress made in tackling this issue,” Davies added.
UKGC chair William Moyes said the new strategy would enable the commission to better understand problem gambling related harm, “moving away from simply counting problem gamblers and instead building a greater understanding of the harms experienced”.
As part of the new strategy, Public Health England will also be conducting a review of evidence on the public health harms in England related to gambling. The first-of-its-kind review will look at the range and scale of gambling harms and identify the impact of gambling on people’s health and wellbeing.
In addition, a new website has been launched containing information on the new national strategy, while also allowing the tracking of progress on the delivery of priorities.