Good morning everyone. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to speak to you today and I am delighted to be here.
It was a huge privilege to be appointed as the new Government’s gambling minister back in July. Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet with a cross section of gambling stakeholders. I am grateful to everyone I’ve met for sharing your knowledge and perspectives and look forward to meeting many more of you in the weeks and months.
I have been touched by the stories and experiences I have heard from those affected by gambling harms. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank those working to protect people at risk. Your work is incredibly important and we must continue to work together to help those who need it.
This Government made a commitment in its manifesto to reduce gambling-related harms by reforming regulations and strengthening protections. We also want to work with the industry to ensure responsible gambling, ensuring that the majority who gamble without harm can continue to do so.
I want to talk to you today about how we will make that happen.
But before that, I want to acknowledge that although I’m speaking at a GambleAware conference today, this is my first formal opportunity to speak to everyone across the gambling landscape. And I want to take this opportunity to set out my overall approach.
Just as we recognise that gambling can be harmful, and that for some people gambling is not safe, we must also recognise – for example – how for others bingo can reduce loneliness, and we must acknowledge the fun that can be had from a flutter on the horses, and the value of supporting good causes through the National Lottery.
For me and the Government it is about balance – enabling an environment which allows those who want to gambling to do so safely. An environment that recognises the social and economic value the sector can bring. But also an environment which ensures the vulnerable and those at risk of harm are better protected.
In Opposition Labour supported the 2023 gambling white paper. In Government, we will continue to do so. I want to work with you all, with the Gambling Commission and with the gambling industry, to continue to deliver the key reforms it sets out. I know many of you are eager to hear our plans.
As you may have seen in my written statement to the House last week I am pleased to confirm that this Government will proceed with the introduction of a statutory levy and stake limits for online slots, bringing forward the required legislation soon.
The introduction of a statutory levy marks a watershed moment. And I know many of you in this room are personally invested in the system of research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms.
The levy will create a significant increase in investment – raising ninety to one hundred million pounds in its first year – but also in trust and government oversight.
I am especially excited about what this means for high-quality research under the direction of UK Research and Innovation, which will further build the evidence base and inform future policy and regulation.
And NHS England as the treatment commissioner – alongside partner bodies in Scotland and Wales – will unify service provision and raise standards across the board.
I would like to also take this moment to recognise that the levy is building on the successes of the current system. I am grateful for the significant uplift in funding the gambling industry has provided in recent years.
This has provided invaluable funding for efforts to tackle gambling harm. But I am unapologetic in wanting a system for the future that is clearer, fairer and sustainable. It is only right that all operators pay their fair share and that contributions reflect levels of harm and the financial realities of the land-based sector.
I am also immensely grateful for all the valuable work across the sector to support this transition, especially within the National Gambling Support Network. GambleAware has worked tirelessly to provide vital support and treatment for people in need across the country.
Together with many of you in this room, GambleAware has been crucial in getting the issue of gambling harm up the agenda. We are committed to a smooth and stable transition to the levy which represents a step change in the government’s efforts in this area.
We will work with all key stakeholders, to ensure its success. Close collaboration with the third sector will be crucial to ensure people in need continue to get the support they need as we move towards the levy system.
The levy also represents significant system change, and I understand that comes with some unanswered questions and uncertainty. My priority is ensuring a smooth transition to the levy. And I am conscious of the need to confirm the government’s plans for prevention and how that will be commissioned in the future.
It is hugely important to get this decision right as we build a sustainable, futureproof system. We hope to confirm our plans in the coming weeks.
Ultimately, I want the levy funding to be directed where it is needed most and in a way which has the greatest impact on the ground, led by necessary expertise and evidence.
In starting to get to know you all, I have been horrified to hear stories of life changing losses, spiralling harm and the impact that harmful gambling can have on loved ones.
I have also been shocked by hearing from friends and former colleagues about their loved ones who are dealing with gambling addiction, and in some cases is it people I have known for years and I’ve never known their stories.
I am determined to limit peoples’ exposure to potential harms. It is clear that harmful gambling can ruin lives, and it also has wider costs to society and our health service.
We know that online slots are a particularly high risk gambling product. However, unlike land-based gaming machines, they have no statutory stake limits. This is why I have prioritised the introduction of online stake limits that will slow any rate of loss for consumers.
The limits will be set at £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds, and £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over. They will work together with other changes that have been made to game design, such as slowing down the speed of play and banning autoplay features. These measures reduce play intensity and are intended to provide customers with a better understanding of their gambling.
Safer game design is just one aspect of the significant programme of reform being delivered by the Gambling Commission.
From increasing customer choice in what direct marketing they receive, to improving age assurance in land-based venues, and new checks that ascertain if a customer has significant financial risk. I am grateful for the work of the Gambling Commission and will continue to meet them regularly and work with it to reduce harmful gambling.
I want to see a safer, more responsible gambling industry. The majority of people who gamble do so without experiencing harm – I want to build on this with your and industry support. It is in all our interests.
I want a gambling sector in this country that is one we can be proud of – one that offers good jobs, brings social value, and is one that people enjoy.
The gambling industry contributed over 3.4 billion pounds in tax last year and employs ninety thousand workers. Gambling yield continues to grow strongly. Excluding lotteries, GGY across the gambling sector is up 5.7% on last year and all parts of the industry have seen growth.
I believe it is possible to have an industry that is growing and that is safer for consumers. It is for this very reason I have said to both the gambling and horseracing industries that I want them to work together to come up with proposals that are a win-win, I am grateful for their work.
I know that operators have concerns about the impact of measures taken by Government. So, as we bring forward world-leading harm prevention reforms, we will be led by the evidence. I will work with industry to ensure that any regulatory interventions are proportionate and we will support a responsible industry.
Returning to what I said earlier about balance, I want to support the industry where the evidence suggests that it is appropriate and proportionate to do so. For example, I am very aware of the relatively modest changes being asked for by the casino sector. I support the measures outlined in the white paper and I will provide an update as soon as possible on their progress.
I also want to work closely with other parts of the land-based sector, such as bingo clubs and seaside arcades to understand what we can do to support them. They are a vital and vibrant part of many communities and I want to see them thrive, not just survive.
But growth cannot and will not be at the expense of player safety. I want to work with the land-based sector and the Gambling Commission to ensure that player protection measures, such as self-exclusion schemes, are effective and that members of staff are equipped to support those at risk of gambling-related harm.
It is not just the regulated gambling sector that needs to do more to protect consumers though. Large scale prize draws, like Omaze, are a significant and growing market.
Whilst not regulated under the Gambling Act, I want the people who participate in draws with these companies to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.
I am grateful for the voluntary action taken so far by the sector to act transparently and apply player protection measures. I want to ensure high standards in this area and will be meeting the sector to discuss this work.
Turning now to advertising and sponsorship, which I know is of concern to many of you here today.
We know that people can feel they are being inundated with gambling messaging – and this can be especially true whilst watching sport.
We know that advertising can have a disproportionate impact on those who are already suffering from gambling-related harm.
And we know that people are particularly concerned about the potential impact on children and young people.
It is my expectation that industry can and should do more to work together, with each other and with us, to ensure that gambling advertising and sponsorship is appropriate, responsible and does not exacerbate harm.
Gambling operators may feel that their own messaging and volume of ads are appropriate.
But the issue of what is appropriate needs to be looked at in aggregate, not operator by operator. I do not stand here today to tell you what that volume must be, but I do expect industry to take the initiative on this by working across industry, with sporting bodies, with academics and harm prevention experts.
I expect close monitoring of the sports codes of conduct – brought in voluntarily by sporting bodies earlier this year – to ensure they have a meaningful impact. I also fully support the Premier League’s decision to ban front-of-shirt gambling sponsors from the end of the 2025/26 season.
I am aware of the increasing prevalence of ‘white label’ operators using football in this country to advertise to consumers outside of Great Britain. I am engaging with the Gambling Commission and industry to gather further evidence of their prevalence and impact. If further action is needed, we will take it.
I am also eager to see improvements made to safer gambling messaging. Industry ownership of safer gambling messaging is not sustainable in the long term. That is why we are working with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Gambling Commission to develop a new approach to messaging.
I believe this is a sensible and proportionate request of industry. I am grateful for the engagement so far from the Betting and Gaming Council. I expect to see further action on advertising and will meet them in the new year to discuss.
Today I’ve set out my plan, and some challenges for this industry. This Government will do its part, and I am asking you to do yours.
A better, safer gambling industry is in all of our interests, and I hope you are all as keen as I am to take these challenges on. I will keep listening and working with you all to realise this and I look forward to the weeks and months ahead.
