January 14, 2019

The current National Responsible Gambling Strategy comes to an end in March 2019. Accordingly, the Commission is developing a new national strategy to reduce gambling harms.

The Commission committed in its business plan to develop the new strategy and to continue to be committed to driving and encouraging progress within its remit. However, it is only one of the bodies with a role to play, and says that it will work together with Government, public health, the charitable sector and gambling businesses in order to make real progress to reduce gambling harms.

The Commission says that it wants as many people and organisations as possible to have a voice in shaping the strategy and the arrangements needed to deliver it. Views are being sought on the five proposed priority areas for action over the life of the strategy.

The Commission is also conducting a formal consultation under s 24 of the Gambling Act 2005 on proposed amendments to the LCCP requirement on gambling businesses to contribute to research, prevention and treatment, and associated arrangements needed to deliver the strategy.

An amendment to LCCP is proposed to specify that licensees’ contributions under this provision are made to one or more organisations that are approved by the Commission. The Commission says that this is intended to give clarity to gambling businesses on how they can ensure they are compliant. To access the consultation, click here.