The U.K. Parliament’s Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) select committee has begun an inquiry into the government’s regulation of gaming, in an attempt to understand whether it has done enough to protect the vulnerable.
The 11-member committee has representatives of the major parties and independents.
According to a statement, the committee “will be investigating the progress the government has made in addressing the issues raised by parliament, how to ensure regulation can keep up with innovations in online gambling and the links between gambling and broadcasting and sport.”
It said the catalyst for the inquiry was “warnings that more needs to be done to protect people, including children, from gambling-related harm.”
The committee will take evidence until February 10, 2023.
Meanwhile, the government announced that the highly anticipated Gambling Act of 2005 white paper, which had been expected to be published more than a year ago-will now be released early 2024.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) said it welcomes the inquiry. BGC Chairman Michael Dugher commented, “As the standards body for much of the regulated industry, we strongly welcome this inquiry announced today as a further opportunity for the regulated sector to show our continued commitment to raising standards in safer gambling.”
He added that the investigation should be “evidence-led” and “has to strike a careful balance in making recommendations that are about protecting the vulnerable, while not unfairly impacting on the millions of customers who bet perfectly safely and responsibly.”
He added that in its zeal to protect the vulnerable, the government should not “drive people to the unsafe, unregulated black market online, where there aren’t any safeguards to protect vulnerable people.”
