Gambling Reform Summit attendees pushed back against Baroness Twycross’ comments on helping to drive gambling sector growth while balancing increased consumer protections.
Baroness Twycross, UK minister for gambling, told the Gambling Reform Summit on Wednesday she was determined to support the sector’s continued growth while improving consumer protection measures within its gambling reforms.
Attendees and speakers pushed back against her speech, insisting the sector’s growth directly conflicted with efforts to reduce gambling harms. Peers for Gambling Reform hosted the event, and Lord Foster of Bath chaired it.
Reform campaigners and charities, gambling harm researchers, and people with lived experience made up most of the audience.
In her speech, which opened the conference on Wednesday, Twycross said her biggest challenge when making policy decisions was striking “the right balance between” opposing views on gambling reform and ensuring the UK sector is supported.
“It is a big responsibility, but I do want to continue with reforms that will improve consumer protection while supporting the sector that makes an important economic societal contribution,” she said.
“I know most of you don’t think this is possible, but I am going to be open with you about the approach we are taking as a government,” she continued.
Statutory levy governance to ensure ‘smooth transition’ to new system
Speaking on the statutory levy, Twycross thanked many of those in attendance for their role in the levy’s implementation. “I think it is going to make a considerable difference,” she said.
“The three responsible commissioners in England will naturally take time to set up structures to allow funding to flow effectively.
“Although the relevant commissioners are leading the decision making, where appropriate we want to make sure that we maintain expertise and provision of service for those who need it most, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system and avoiding a cliff-edge improvision,” she added.
An independent body will oversee the levy’s implementation and ensure appropriate distribution of funding. Twycross said the “clear governance structure will look objectively at how the levy is working and hold the commissioners to account”.
The Baroness told the audience an independent and impartial process will decide where to spend the funding. This is a top priority for DCMS, she said.
Levy board will identify and stamp out conflicts of interest in research funding
Researchers raised concerns at an April parliamentary health committee hearing about GambleAware funding industry-influenced research.
Speaking during the committee session, Sam Chamberlain, professor of psychiatry at the University of Southampton, said: “There’s been a lack of funding from our trusted funding bodies. In pragmatic terms, the industry has been giving cash to one massive charity that then has been handing out that money to various organisations. [But] I’m not saying that all of that work is invalid.”
On this, Twycross told the audience: “Independence is as important to me as it is to you.
“When I took on this role it was made really clear to me one of the greatest challenges you face in using research, was concerns over whether research was funded by organisations with clear vested interests, and those couldn’t be trusted.
“So I have been assured that robust processes will be in place to identify and manage any conflicts of interest, including ensuring there is no influence rising as a result of the previous funding arrangements [under the voluntary levy].”
In April the government implemented the statutory levy, and the Gambling Commission released a breakdown of rates based on an operator’s licence. Operators could face licence revocation if they do not adhere to levy requirements.
