Winning Post: UK Gambling lacking support in Parliament

Regulus Partners comments on the loss of gambling’s voice in Parliament following the All Party Parliamentary Betting and Gaming Group’s decision to close its ranks. UK gambling requires a new approach to engage with MPs on pending matters.  

The paper tiger of gambling’s ‘powerful industry lobby’ emitted a plaintive meow this week, as the All Party Parliamentary Betting and Gaming Group folded. Last month’s undercover sting by The Times on APPG chair, Scott Benton MP (Cons, Blackpool South) proved to be the final straw for the group, which has been steadily losing members over recent years and has been only sporadically active.

The decision to collapse the APPG reflects both a loss of support within Parliament for the industry and the disengagement of major UK licensees from the formalised debate on policy. While the APPG has been characterised as an instrument of the ‘Big Gambling’ lobby, the truth is that it has enjoyed only lukewarm support in recent years.

With the exception of the Bingo APPG (convened in reference to land-based bingo clubs) there is now no forum for parliamentary discussion of general matters pertaining to the licensed gambling market in Britain.

There is no shortage of interest among MPs and peers for reflections on the negative aspects of the gambling market, with the Gambling-related Harm APPG and Peers for Gambling Reform both well-supported and highly active. Given the fact that we are progressing through a period of potentially profound regulatory and legislative reform, this gap in legislative scrutiny should be concerning.

The appointment of a new chair for the Culture, Media and Sport select committee may also reflect an accented view of policy in Westminster. As part of her successful pitch for leadership of the committee, Caroline Dinenage did a good job of ‘not messing with Mr In-between’ on the delicate balance of gambling market regulation.

Accentuating the negative, Dame Dinenage staked her claim in reference to “the long-awaited and recently published Gambling White Paper [which] is crucial for those affected by gambling harm”; before adding, “as the Government consults and legislates, it is essential they know the House’s view. I want to see the Committee hold the Government to account and prevent further delays to this vitally important piece of work.”

Harm prevention is, of course, important but it should not be the sole aim of any Government department . It may also be significant that Dame Dinenage’s nomination was supported by Labour’s Carolyn Harris (Swansea East), who remains one of the noisiest critics of the licensed gambling industry; and by the former Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries.

The gambling industry’s dearth of visible supporters in Parliament is hardly surprising given the number of self-inflicted embarrassments of recent years. Some Parliamentarians may no doubt reflect on the wisdom of standing too close to those aiming shotguns at their own feet.

At the same time, a substantial segment of the British adult population get at least some of their kicks from gambling. It should be entirely possible to take a dim view of unethical industry practices and still believe that the interests of gambling consumers ought to be protected (and that not all licensees should be held accountable for the behaviours of some). As the Betting and Gaming APPG passes into history, perhaps now is the time for a gambling consumer APPG.

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Featured article edited by SBC from ‘Winning Post’ Sunday 21 May 2023 (click on the below logo to access the full unedited analysis of Winning Post).