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Culture, Media and Sport Committee: Launch of inquiry - Draft Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill

Launch of inquiry: draft gambling (licensing & advertising) bill

In response to a request from the Minister for Sport and Tourism, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee will scrutinise the draft Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Bill recently published by the Government.

The Committee invites short written submissions, focused only on the provisions in the Bill. These should be sent by e-mail to cmsev@parliament.uk and have 'Draft Gambling Bill' in the subject line. The deadline for submissions is 11 January 2013.

A guide for written submissions may be found on the parliamentary website at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/culture-media-and-sport-committee/witness/

The Committee expects to take oral evidence on the draft Bill in January and publish a report shortly afterwards.

 

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Committee Membership is as follows: 

Mr John Whittingdale (Chair) (Con) (Maldon)

Mr Ben Bradshaw (Lab) (Exeter)

Angie Bray (Con) (Ealing Central and Acton)

Conor Burns (Con) (Bournemouth West)

Tracey Crouch (Con)(Chatham and Aylesford)

Philip Davies (Con) (Shipley)

Paul Farrelly (Lab) (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

Steve Rotheram (Lab) (Liverpool, Walton)

Mr Adrian Sanders (Lib Dem) (Torbay)

Jim Sheridan (Lab) (Paisley and Renfrewshire North)

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Lab) (Bradford South)

 

 

Specific Committee Informationcmscom@parliament.uk 020 7219 6188

Media Information: Jessica Bridges-Palmer  bridgespalmerj@parliament.uk/ 020 7219 0724

Committee Website: www.parliament.uk/cmscom

Watch committees and parliamentary debates onlinewww.parliamentlive.tv 

 

Publications / Reports / Reference Material: Copies of all select committee reports are available from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge St, Westminster, 020 7219 3890) or the Stationery Office (0845 7023474).  Committee reports, press releases, evidence transcripts, Bills; research papers, a directory of MPs, plus Hansard (from 8am daily) and much more, can be found on www.parliament.uk

Tags for Forum Posts: gambling, law, legislation

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As far as I can see, Clive, this Act is only about regulating foreign gambling operators operating in the online space. Is that right as far as you're aware?

Yes, the proposed changes fail to deal with betting shops - the matter of local concern - and that is exactly why this bill is relevant. It would be wrong to conclude that its irrelevant. 

It's relevant because it shows the government has decided to take no action over betting shops problems. This was hinted at when comments were invited before the last consultation, when reference was made to proliferation - not of betting shops, but of offshore online operations.

The concerns later expressed about betting shops were ignored. It shows that the priority for the government is to address concerns of the betting industry and not those of the community. But the latter's concerns will continue to be paid lip service.

The move to protect domestic based betting operators will strengthen the local gambling industry. It serves to further legitimise the spread of gambling. If it's believed that betting shop proliferation is just a planning issue for local councils, then this move to regulate on-line gambling is irrelevant.

But in the long run - like retail in general - bricks and mortar betting shops may eventually give way to the greater efficiencies of on-line. Already we see a step towards computerised gambling inside betting shops in the form of FOBTs. Although the punter is physically present, the "game" is hosted on a remote server.

The next step is already advertised in the shops: apps available for smart phones, that allow gambling 24/7. The efficiencies of this kind of operation must be enormous - and with corresponding social damage. Betting shops could be thought of as a step and phase in the long run, leaving only a few shops in the poorest areas for those who can deal only in cash.

The motivation for this change seems to be that the 'industry' is losing business to overseas operators. The Minister suggests that overseas operators aren't bearing their fair share of costs of education and treatment of problem gambling. I suggest that the same is true for domestic operators.

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