The Gambling Act Review White Paper was among the items on the agenda at a Parliamentary Reception recently hosted by independent charity Ygam. Speaking at the event was Shadow Education Minister Jeff Smith who shared his views on the issue of research, education, and treatment (RET) funding which has been the subject of intense debate over the past few months.
Smith Says Govt Must Focus on Harm Prevention
In his speech, Smith said RET funding must not focus on treatment provision alone. He stressed that the upcoming White Paper must address concerns over the sustainability of services provided by independent charities like Ygam whose work revolves around preventing harm and addressing it when it has been able to develop.
Such services play a vital role in the UK’s fight against gambling harm which is why there needs to be sustainable funding for those services to continue, according to Smith.
Growing Calls for Imposition of Statutory RET Levy
Smith’s remarks come amid calls for a statutory levy to be imposed on gambling operators throughout the country. Gambling reform advocates say the current voluntary system is not fit for purpose and has several weaknesses, including a lack of transparency, insufficient funding, unpredictability, and a lack of equity across operators.
Even GambleAware, which receives the majority of RET donations from the industry, supports the imposition of a mandatory levy despite opposition from the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC).
