More than 160 MPs and campaigners unite in call for gambling reform

In a bid to curb problem gambling, players could be restricted to a maximum of £2 for online betting and a monthly cap of £100 as over 160 MPs and peers have united to propose a reform to the government. In a letter to The Telegraph, 160 MPs and peers expressed their concern over gambling in the UK exclaiming that over 55,000 children between the age of 11 and 16 are addicted to gambling. This is, more than likely, not traditional sport or casino betting but, says Alexa Rosblade, young people’s participation lead at GamCare, could be “gambling with friends such as making a bet about who will win a race.” Former Tory leader and MP Iain Duncan Smith, ex-BBC chairman Lord Grade, and 18 bishops are among the 160 MPs and peers. They further raised the analysis by Public Health England (PHE) which suggested that the social and economic cost of gambling was recorded at £1.27bn every year causing financial hardships such as bankruptcy and unemployment, family breakdown and health harms. The letter from the MPs and peers to The Telegraph quoted: “We are calling on the Prime Minister to be bold in delivering the gambling reforms needed to prevent harm across the country. “It is time for the Government to live up to the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto commitment to a review of gambling laws, levelling up, social justice and a better future for us all,” the letter stated. The MPs and peers backing the proposal belong to all party groups vouching for gambling reforms in both houses. As per the proposal, the maximum bet would be set at £2, with a spending limit of £100 every month. After an individual surpasses the limit, the gambler would have to pass a strict affordability test which will be conducted by the operator to ensure they do not spend beyond their means. The MPs and peers also raised their concern over gambling advertisements and called for stricter regulations suggesting a ban of logos on football jerseys and stadia hoardings. Meanwhile, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) last month suggested that the overall problem gambling rate fell from 0.6% in September 2020 to 0.3% in September 2021. Additionally, the moderate risk rate decreased from 1.2% to 0.7%.