TThe regulation of internet gambling was left out of the last government’s online harms law. So far, Labour’s plans for the sector have been opaque. But the rapid growth of the industry, coupled with growing concerns about gambling problems in Britain and around the world, means ministers deserve to come under pressure if they do not make their intentions clear quickly. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch resigned in 2018 when a promise to limit betting on fixed-odds betting terminals was postponed. Six years later, proposals to limit betting on digital slot machines are in the air after last year’s white paper was shelved. The introduction of a statutory levy on companies to pay for investigations and treatment, and the creation of an ombudsman, have also been suspended.
Perhaps even more worrying is the lack of clear guidelines for limiting gambling advertising, which has become ubiquitous in sport, particularly football. Recent research showed that Premier League fans were bombarded with almost 30,000 advertisements in one weekend, with half of clubs promoting betting on web pages aimed at children. In 2023, the Guardian banned all gambling advertising due to the risks. Meanwhile, the NHS has doubled the number specialized clinics in England to 15.
Increased taxes on betting and gambling businesses, which had a turnover of £15 billion (or £11 billion if the lottery is excluded) in the year to March 2023, are expected to be included in the budget. But tax decisions should not obscure gambling’s troubling impact on public health. The one from last week report from the Lancet medical journal grouped gambling with tobacco, alcohol and other “unhealthy commodity industries” and convincingly argued that governments and regulators should strive for a common approach.
This would include a recognition of business practices designed to influence both consumer behavior and regulation – and a strong challenge to the industry’s preferred frameworks. This, like other addictions and obesity, treats problem gambling as the result of poor choices made by individuals, rather than as the predictable outcome of an environment in which people are encouraged to adopt risky habits. A approach to public health points to population-level interventions, such as age limits and restrictions on advertising, as well as treatment and advice. Crucially, both precautionary and restorative measures are urged.
The experts at The Lancet point out that digital technology – in gambling but also in other areas – has surpassed our understanding of its impact on people. With smartphones functioning as pocket casinos, the gambling industry’s phenomenal growth means that an estimated 80 million adults worldwide are already problem gamblers, with their total losses expected to reach $700 billion by 2028. Where patterns have been studied, including in Africa, they are skewed towards people who are economically poorer. Men are much more likely than women to be problem gamblers. In addition to financial problems and debt, there are also links to suicide, mood disorders and domestic violence.
Despite all these concerns, the international trend remains towards liberalization. Given the digital and mobile nature of the sector, there is a strong argument for concerted action from governments and stricter national regulations. At the very least, means must be found to protect young people, who are vulnerable to gambling, as well as other forms of online harm. Ministers in Britain and elsewhere should take this bull by the horns.