The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government
- whether they have made an assessment of the impact that banning gambling advertising before 9pm would have on reducing gambling harms among under 18s.
- what consideration they have given to implementing a similar policy for gambling advertising to the recently announced ban on junk food advertising before 9pm.
Baroness Twycross (Lab, DCMS): As I set out in my speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December, I want to see the gambling industry further raise standards to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm. This work will be monitored closely.
There are a range of robust rules in place to ensure that gambling adverts, wherever they appear, are socially responsible with provisions specifically designed to protect children. As part of the UK Advertising Codes, adverts must not be placed in children’s media and advertisers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that under-18s are excluded from their targeted marketing. As the statutory regulator for gambling in Great Britain, the Gambling Commission requires all licensed operators to abide by the Advertising Codes. As part of the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising, gambling adverts, with exception of bingo and lotteries, cannot be shown during pre-watershed hours. Gambling operators cannot allow their logos or any other promotional material to appear on any commercial merchandising designed for children, including on children’s replica shirts.
The Government’s steps to restrict the advertising of less healthy food and drink is part of the commitment to tackle the childhood obesity crisis. The Government is also committed to strengthening protections to ensure that people can reduce the risks that can ensue from harmful gambling. We are committed to reviewing the best available evidence on the impact of gambling advertising from a wide range of sources in order to ensure there are robust protections in place to protect those at risk.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
- further to their response to the consultation on the structure, distribution and governance of the statutory levy on gambling operators, updated on 27 November, what plans they have to ban gambling advertising.
- what assessment they have made of the appropriate frequency for the review of the structure of the statutory levy on the gambling industry to ensure the levy delivers its objectives.
- on what basis they decided to set the statutory levy on gambling operators for land-based adult gaming centres at a different rate to that for casinos and other comparable land-based operators.
Baroness Twycross: As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the statutory levy, we want to ensure levy rates are charged fairly, proportionately, and in a way which accounts for the higher fixed operating costs, levels of harm associated with some products compared to others, and the licensing regime.
We will conduct a formal review of the levy system within 5 years, where the structure and health of the levy system will be assessed. We also recognise that the needs, demands and priorities of the system may change over time, and are committed to regularly monitoring the system to ensure it is delivering on its objectives. Should we see evidence of issues in the system, we will take appropriate action.
As I set out in my speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December, I want to see the gambling industry further raise standards to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm. This work will be monitored closely. We are also committed to reviewing the best available evidence on the impact of gambling advertising from a wide range of sources in order to ensure there are robust protections in place to protect those at risk.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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