Oral evidence given to the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry Inquiry

We have reported previously on the House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into “the social and economic impact of the gambling industry”, that is required to make recommendations and report by 31 March 2020.

That Committee has so far held the following evidence sessions.

The first (on 16 July 2019) – “Problem gambling in the UK” – was with Government officials from the Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and can be viewed on parliament live.tv here

The second (on 23 July 2019) “Is the research and data available sufficient to tackle problem gambling?” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:

  • Professor Jim Orford, Emeritus Professor of Clinical and Community Psychology, University of Birmingham
  • Dr Heather Wardle, Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Dr Anna van der Gaag, Chair, Advisory Board for Safer Gambling and
  • Tim Miller, Executive Director, Gambling Commission

UPDATES:

  1. Transcripts of the oral evidence given to the Select Committee can be accessed here (and can be downloaded below when they become available)
  2. The third evidence session (on 3 September 2019) “How effective is the Gambling Act 2005?” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Sir Alan Budd GBE, former Chairman, Gambling Review Body
    • Dan Waugh, Partner, Regulus Partners
    • Susanna Fitzgerald QC
    • Dr Julia Hörnle, Professor of Internet Law, Queen Mary University of London
  3. The fourth evidence session (on 8 October 2019) “Gambling disorder” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Owen Baily,
    • Alex Macey,
    • Tony Parente,
    • Michelle Singlehurst
  4. The fifth evidence session (on 29 October 2019) “GambleAware and BACTA give evidence” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Marc Etches, Chief Executive, GambleAware,
    • Kate Lampard CBE, Chair, Board of Trustees, GambleAware,
    • John White, CEO, BACTA,
    • Jason Frost, Former President, BACTA
  5. The sixth evidence session (on 5 November 2019) “The Casino and Bingo industries give evidence” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Simon Thomas, Chief Executive and Chairman, Hippodrome Casino London,
    • John O’Reilly, Chief Executive, Rank Group plc,
    • Miles Baron, Chief Executive, the Bingo Association,
    • Phil Cronin, Chief Executive, Tombola,
    • Simon Wykes, Transition Director and Member of the Board, Gamesys Group
  6. The seventh evidence session (on 28 January 2020) “Horseracing industry and lotteries give evidence” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Alex Frost, Chief Executive, UK Tote Group,
    • Robin Grossmith, Director, Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers,
    • Nigel Roddis, Managing Director, Britbet Racing,
    • Nick Rust, Chief Executive, British Horseracing Authority
  7. The eighth evidence session (on 4 February 2020) “UK’s biggest gambling firms questioned on safer gambling commitments” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Kenny Alexander, Chief Executive, GVC,
    • Ulrik Bengtsson, Chief Executive, William Hill,
    • John Coates, Joint Chief Executive, Bet365,
    • Conor Grant, Chief Operating Officer, Sky Betting and Gaming,
    • Dan Taylor, Chief Executive, Paddy Power Betfair,
    • Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chair, Betting and Gaming Council
  8. The ninth evidence session (on 11 February 2020) “Gambling Commission to discuss regulatory framework and gambling-related harm” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Neil McArthur, Chief Executive, Gambling Commission
    • Bill Moyes, Chair, Gambling Commission
  9. The tenth evidence session (on 25 February 2020) “Is the regulation of gambling advertising fit for purpose?” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Lord Currie of Marylebone, Chair, Advertising Standards Authority
    • Guy Parker, Chief Executive, Advertising Standards Authority
    • Charles Ritchie, Founder, Gambling with Lives
    • Liz Ritchie, Founder, Gambling with Lives
  10. The eleventh evidence session (on 3 March 2020) “Why are children and young people becoming disordered gamblers?” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Luke Clark, Professor, Department of Psychology and Director, Centre for Gambling Research, University of British Columbia
    • Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Director, National Problem Gambling Clinic
    • Simone Vibert, Senior Policy and Policy Affairs Analyst, Children’s Commissioner for England
    • David Zendle, Lecturer in Computer Science, University of York
    • Lee Willows, Founder and Chief Executive, YGAM
  11. The twelfth session (on 10 March 2020) “What is the finance sector doing to support disordered gamblers?” – that can be viewed on parliamentlive.tv here – was with:
    • Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare;
    • Jill Britton, Trustee of GamCare;
    • Matthew Hickey, Chief Executive of Gordon Moody Association; and
    • Dr John McAlaney, Trustee of Gordon Moody Association.
    • Alexandra Frean, Head of Corporate Affairs at Starling Bank
    • Elyn Corfield, Managing Director, Consumer Finance at Lloyds Banking Group.
  12. Written submissions to the Committee (published between 29 January and 3 June 2020) can be accessed here. Particular attention is drawn to
  13. It was announced on the UKParliament website that “the Committee will report by 23 June 2020”. That has not happened and it is now anticipated that the report may instead be published on Thursday 2 July 2020.