The news of another delay for the release of the UK government white paper into gambling reform has been met with mixed reaction.
Some feel it鈥檚 a good thing but others, including Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), believe it is 鈥渋nexcusable鈥�.聽
Many in the betting industry feel that the customer value will decrease as people will bet less due to the possible . Owners of fear that the limits on max stakes at online gaming sites鈥� slot machines will also affect the revenues negatively and will hit returns on investment.聽
July was meant to have seen the release of the white paper setting out just what the government has planned for the UK gambling industry. Reform was part of the Conservatives鈥� 2019 General Election manifesto but there has been slow progress made.
It鈥檚 important to change the 2005 Gambling Act as that doesn鈥檛 address the kind of industry we now have. We simply weren鈥檛 able to bet online or on our mobile devices back then. However, the problems in Downing Street that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has caused further .
No new policy statements can be made until the new Prime Minister is chosen. Either Rishi Sunak (pictured) or Liz Truss will become Prime Minister on September 5. The new leader will have a fair amount on their plate so the review of the white paper may well drag on. Any legislation isn鈥檛 likely to take place until next year.
CARE are dismayed at what is the fourth delay of the white paper. Their Senior Policy Officer is Tim Cairns and he believes that there is 鈥渁 democratic and a moral case for green lighting this proposal, and finally allowing parliamentarians to get to grips with it鈥�.
He spoke about the 鈥渕any months of work and consultation with experts and campaigners鈥� that had led to the white paper being completed and sent to Downing Street for a final review before publication.
Of course, that review may produce some changes now. It all depends on the views on gambling of the new Prime Minister. The white paper could see its proposed measures added to with stricter ones put in place.
The delay greatly concerns CARE and they fear it will 鈥渙nly cause more, untold grief鈥�. Statistics indicate that one person a day commits suicide because of gambling harm.聽
What concerns CARE even more is the rumours that 鈥渒ey reforms鈥� may have been left out of the final draft of the White Paper. One of these is a compulsory levy placed on gambling companies. The funds received would then be used to help those affected by gambling harm and research the subject.
Mr Cairns sent out a challenge to whoever the new Prime Minister will be. They need to decide what side they are on. 鈥淲ill they fight to help the vulnerable鈥� or 鈥渟ide with the gambling industry鈥�. CARE believes that the gambling reforms need to be 鈥渃omprehensive鈥�. Those would include cutting the amount of gambling advertising to ensure children are kept safe.
When people make payments into their gambling account, PayPal is the method often used. It鈥檚 quick and safe but the concerns are whether the player can afford to be spending the funds they are depositing. It鈥檚 likely the white paper will contain details of stricter affordability checks. Also possible is a reduction in the maximum stakes on casino games and slots, businesscloud.co.uk reported.
The wait goes on then for the release of the white paper. It鈥檚 not a subject that seems to be getting mentioned during the Tory leadership election. That鈥檚 something which will upset those campaigning against the gambling industry.