According to a report published in the Sunday Times, UK ministers are preparing to ‘water down’ proposals for a crackdown on betting companies and problem gambling.
Mandatory problem gambling ley to become optional
The report comes ahead of a white paper that is expected to recommend significant reforms of current UK gambling laws. Industry heavyweights have previously described these as ‘draconian measures’ that will have a negative impact on gambling operators and those that work in the industry.
It’s believed that those measures will includes an outright ban on all forms of gambling sponsorship for football clubs with a particular focus on the Premier League. Other expected measures include gambling limits, and mandatory levies on all gambling companies which would be funneled directly to problem gambling research and treatment programs.
GambleAware has supported a mandatory 1% levy on all post winnings earning from gambling operators with the charity arguing that this would ‘provide stability and the best-in-class solutions to prevent gambling harms’. Estimates put the figure collected from this levy at around £140 million (€164.2 million) per year.
However, The Sunday Times reports that ministers are rethinking this particular measure and will make it an optional contribution instead of a compulsory levy.
UK ministers have faced criticism in recent months after reports emerged that betting companies have lobbied with the government over the expected measures to be included in the upcoming white paper.
The reports of the ministerial change of heart comes as new data reveals that two thirds of gamblers in the UK feel that limits on their gambling will push people to use black market bookmakers and gambling websites.
Polling by YouGov also found that 56% of gamblers feel that there should be no limits on the amount that they can gamble. However, the research did not ask gamblers if they felt that companies should pay a mandatory levy
The review was expected to be published in May but will now likely be released some time in June.
Image credit: UK Parliament / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.