UK sports minister: Operators must tackle gambling-related harm during coronavirus crisis
Nigel Huddleston issues open letter to BGC members calling for clarity on funding amid Covid-19 lockdown
UK sports minister Nigel Huddleston has called on gambling operators to “do their part” in addressing gambling-related harm issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
In an open letter to BGC CEO Michael Dugher, Huddleston cited the potential for an increase in gambling-related harm among gamblers affected by the UK-wide coronavirus lockdown.
The letter asks how funding for research, education and treatment for gambling related harm will be protected in the face of operators’ decreasing gambling revenues.
“Clearly treatment provision takes on a special importance under the present circumstances and I expect industry to provide the funding necessary to ensure there is no shortfall in provision,” Huddleston writes.
In addition, the minister asked how BGC operators plan to fulfill their commitment to providing over £100m in funding to gambling-related harm treatment services over the next four years.
Strongly welcome proactive approach by @HuddlestonNigel. We’ve been working closely with Govt throughout #COVID19. That’s why we stepped up safer gambling messaging & interventions which go beyond current regulatory requirements so customers betting with BGC members do so safely. https://t.co/DpBFwqhCsn
— Michael Dugher (@MichaelDugher) April 20, 2020
It also questions how the BGC will engage with the Department of Health and Social Care to coordinate, evaluate and deliver on this funding objective.
Huddleston paid tribute to the “proactive” steps taken by the BGC, but has called for more to be done by operators including increasing the prominence of safer gambling messaging in advertising.
Referencing the heightened risk to players, Huddleston called for more obvious signposting and warning messages across operator ads.
“This should apply across television, radio, online, and print, with larger text, a longer appearance, or other techniques which can complement the increased messaging you are already providing to your existing customers and on your websites,” Huddleston wrote.
Huddleston confirmed the UKGC will issue a data request to the BGC asking for data on the current state of UK gambling and whether current regulations are enough to prevent increased gambling-related harm.