SBC News Lords Committee calls for 'reliable facts' on gambling habits & impacts

Lords Committee calls for ‘reliable facts’ on gambling habits & impacts

Supporting UK regulatory policy and oversight, the House of Lords Select Committee researching the ‘social and economic impacts of the gambling industry’ has sanctioned a ‘call-for-evidence’ from industry-wide stakeholders.

The Committee seeks to gain research insights and reliable facts on factors related to the gambling sector and its relationship with individuals affected by gambling disorders.

Updating stakeholders, the Committee details that it will focus its inquiry on improving knowledge, data and research with regards to ‘development of gambling habits’, which as a dynamic may have been undermined by a ‘lack of accurate estimates of the extent of the problem’.

Publishing its ‘call-for-evidence’, the Committee seeks to gather information from UK-wide betting stakeholders, assessing amongst its key research criteria whether Gambling Act 2005 has achieved the aim of ‘preventing gambling from becoming a crime or disorder’.

Further remits see the Committee asses the industry’s voluntary levy directive, and whether ‘gambling operators have a legal duty of care to their customers?’.

Leading the inquiry is Lord Grade of Yarmouth as Chairman of the Committee.

“We know that the effects of gambling on individuals and families can be devastating,” he said. “This Committee seeks further to understand the issues, in an area where concrete evidence is lacking, and to explore options for improvement.

“The Committee is keen to receive evidence from a wide range of individuals, organisations and any sectors or groups in society effected. We encourage anyone with experience of the issues to share their views, and participate in this vital inquiry.”

Closing its statement, the Committee informs Stakeholder submissions must be submitted by 6 September 2019.

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