Ministers ready to unveil new online gambling curbs in an effort to stem addiction crisis
- Ministers’ new legislation will bring affordability controls and ban free bets
- Almost half of football clubs are sponsored by gambling companies
- Boris Johnson will not ban bookmakers’ logos on soccer shirts
Boris Johnson introduces online gambling regulations to stem the ‘catastrophic’ impact of addiction
Boris Johnson introduces online gambling regulations to stem the ‘catastrophic’ impact of addiction – but will not ban bookkeepers’ logos on football shirts.
Ministers will publish a review of legislation, including new curbs on minimum input, ‘non-invasive’ affordability controls and the ban on free bets and GDP packages for those who lose large sums of money.
The Gambling Commission – the industry regulator – will also gain new powers and additional funding, while a new ombudsman will strengthen clients’ rights if gambling companies fail to be socially responsible.
But ministers have abandoned plans to ban bookmakers from sponsoring Premier League football shirts. Instead, the Government hopes to reach a voluntary agreement with football clubs.
Nearly half of the clubs last season were sponsored by gambling companies, including Newcastle and West Ham. Plans for a levy on the gambling industry to fund addiction research and treatment have also been scrapped.
Newcastle football club sponsored sportswear website Fun88 last season
Brick-and-mortar casino regulations will be relaxed to level the playing field with online competitors. For example, high street casinos will be allowed to install up to 80 slot machines – more than the current 20. The government says online revenue could drop by more than £ 700 million as a result of the new rules.