UK Gambling Act Review: What are the Circumstances?

Gambling becomes addictive when people can’t stop engaging in gambling activities. Everywhere in the world, people love to spend time trying their luck on gambling, with hopes to likely make big wins. However, the dangers of gambling are so apparent and undeniable as many people in society suffer from them. This is why many governments like that of the UK have gambling acts.

With the All-Party Parliamentary Group on gambling-related harm lauding it as a pivotal point for the industry, the UK government’s Gambling Act review has earned broad support. However, the Betting and Gaming Council suggests an “evidence-led” approach. In this review, we seek to make clear the circumstances surrounding the UK gambling act.

Gambling-Related Harm Anxiety

One of the most prevalent of human vices is gambling, since it offers the illusion of easy cash but can easily lead to financial ruin. If it’s poker, blackjack or something else, the odds are never in your favour; gambling is a competitive business because the house still wins.

The adverse effects of gambling on the fitness and wellbeing of individuals, households, communities and society are gambling-related harm. Such damage affects the resources, relationships and wellbeing of individuals.

Harms can be encountered not only by players themselves. Their children, partners, broader families and social networks, employers, societies and society as a whole may all be influenced by them.

Gambling is a behaviour that is complex, but there are also various forms of gambling addiction. When one is addicted to gambling, it is not always apparent. The act of gambling, contrary to common opinion, is not limited to slot machines, cards and casinos. Other types of gambling are purchasing a lottery ticket, entering a raffle or making a bet with a friend.

When an individual assumes they are in financial ruin, gambling addiction may arise and can only fix their problems by gambling what little they have in an effort to get a large amount of money. Unfortunately, this almost always leads to a cycle in which the gambler believes that their losses must be won back, and the cycle continues until the person is compelled to pursue therapy to break their habit.

Both for individuals with gambling issues and for their families, stress, anxiety and depression are normal. This can make it more difficult to sleep, think and solve problems.

The UK government sees the need to protect problem gamblers from further danger, hence the need to create a service like GamStop. This service helps problem gamblers to regulate their online gambling activities. With GamStop, users can put restrictions in place, and they will be prohibited, for a time of their choice, from using gambling websites and applications run by companies authorised in Great Britain. Only GamStop-free casinos and new casino sites at CasinoGap.org are still accessible for self-excluded customers. For British players, GamStop is a totally free service.

Gambling Act Review

The industry body known as the Betting and Gaming Council has said that it embraces an evidence-led study, which it mentioned would build on its own work to secure a safer gambling environment.

Michael Daugher, the BGC chief executive, says “As the regulated industry’s standards body, we fully welcome the launch of the review by the government. We have called for it to be wide-ranging and evidence-led, and it offers an important opportunity to push more reforms initiated by the industry in the past year to safer gambling.”

The BGC has already introduced safer gambling initiatives, such as measures to limit the exposure of minors to ads and a ban on entering VIP schemes for under-25s.

Dugher also pointed out, however, that over the past 20 years, problem gambling rates have not risen. He added that the government should ensure that it focuses on problem gamblers rather than discouraging those who gamble safely in its review.

Dugher also acknowledged the financial contribution that the industry makes to the economy in general, to the treasury through taxes and to the world of sport via sponsorship. DCMS said that one area explored in the review will be ads, which could include sponsorship.

Finally, Dugher confirmed he welcomed the decision of DCMS to increase the minimum age from 16 to 18 by October 2021 to play the National Lottery, adding that this helped to level the playing field between betting and gaming operators and the lottery.

The Gambling Commission, meanwhile, said it was pleasing to see the study that will determine the functions and powers of the regulator come under the microscope.

The regulator added that by offering advice to Secretary of State for DCMS Oliver Dowden and his department, it would assist in the process. The Commission also pointed to the recent implementation of age and ID verification compliance. Also pointing to VIP schemes and credit card gambling to explain how it has managed to make gambling safer. Licensees, it added, as the analysis is underway, should expect further changes to regulations in pursuit of this objective.