UK: Minister Asserts Government Remains Neutral on Gambling Amid Ongoing Industry Regulation Debate

Culture minister Ian Murray MP was responding to comments from his opposition counterpart Louie French MP, who accused chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves of taking a "gamble" on the regulated industry and those at risk of gambling harm in last week's budget.

Reeves nearly doubled the level of remote gaming duty to 40 per cent while also introducing a new remote betting duty at 25 per cent, although betting on racing was given a carve out.

Speaking in a debate in Westminster Hall, Murray said: "As a government we made these choices in the budget to deliver increases in gambling duties to reflect the way in which the sector has gone but also to make sure we are supporting our public finances."

He added: "It's very clear with the budget changes that the government is not anti-gambling. I've set out some of the measures we have introduced in support of the sector through the budget.

"We've also sought to limit the impact on the high street and protect activities that are lower risk and have greater levels of employment, and we recognise the dangers posed by the illegal market for those in the regulated sector as well as those at risk of gambling-related harm."

Earlier French had accused Reeves of taking "an ideological position instead of a practical position" in the budget.

"Despite clear warnings she chose to fuel the black market where there are no protections for problem gamblers and she chose to jeopardise thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the regulated sector as a result," he said.

"Labour's tax raid was not just anti the gambling industry, it was anti the consumer and anti common sense."

Support for horseracing received a number of mentions in the debate, including from Cameron Thomas, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tewkesbury whose constituency includes Cheltenham racecourse.

Thomas told MPs the track should not be conflated with online betting companies, adding: "Taxation which fails to discriminate between such vastly different operations risks undermining the viability of horseracing, one of Britain's oldest and most recognisable national sports and which contributes over £3 billion annually to the British economy."

The debate had been brought by Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard, who claimed there was "clear evidence" the current regulation of the gambling industry was inadequate and called for measures in areas such as advertising and the creation of a statutory ombudsman for the sector.

He added: "Gambling poses a threat to public health, the control of which requires a substantial expansion and tightening of gambling industry regulation."

However, Murray said it was important the government took stock of the current situation and added: "I know there are further regulatory reforms that many of you would want to see and we will continue to act where evidence shows us we need to intervene.

"Nevertheless, I do believe it's important that we implement and evaluate our recent reforms properly, giving them time to bed in, before moving on to the next thing."

The government also revealed on Tuesday that the new statutory levy on operators to fund action against gambling-related harm had raised "just under £120 million" in its first year.