Social media influencers must be stopped from encouraging children to gamble, say MPs as ministers ban under 18s from playing the National Lottery from next October and launch a major review of gambling laws
- Ministers announced under 18s will be banned from playing the National Lottery
- The Government also today launched a major review of gambling legislation
- MPs called for crackdown on social media influencers who encourage gambling
MPs today demanded ministers take action to stop social media influencers encouraging children and young people to gamble.
The Government has launched a major review of the UK’s gambling laws as ministers also announced the minimum age for playing the National Lottery will rise to 18 from next October.
The review will aim to better protect young people and the vulnerable from problem gambling and will examine whether there is a need for tougher measures on stake and spend limits.
The review was launched by Sport Minister Nigel Huddleston who immediately faced calls from MPs to go further and faster.
Sport Minister Nigel Huddleston today announced the minimum age for playing the National Lottery will increase from 16 to 18 next October
Labour MP Chris Elmore asked Mr Huddleston what action the Government is planning to take to crackdown on social media influencers promoting gambling to young people online.
‘One of the key areas we’ve seen huge increases in people taking up and partaking in gambling is around influencers,’ he said.
‘I’d like to understand from the minister now what work he’s doing now in tackling influencers who are able to target particularly children and young people and trying to encourage them to gamble.
‘That really does need to be addressed long before this review is concluded.’
Mr Huddleston replied: ‘(Mr Elmore) will be aware that the Government is considering action in the broader issue of online harms and the role that social media companies play in that.
‘That work will be undertaken alongside this review as well and we will certainly work together and I’ll work with colleagues in the rest of the department to make sure that we’re very much aligned.’
Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the review ‘marks the beginning of a real sea change in our attitude towards the gambling abuses’ which have taken place as he suggested replacing the Gambling Commission.
He told MPs: ‘Is it not now time instead of looking at the powers for the commission, to get rid of the commission altogether and institute a body as powerful as say Ofcom or all the other bodies that monitor and regulate these industries?
‘Now is the time to make bold moves to make sure we get proper control and the abuses and addiction ends.’
Mr Huddleston confirmed that as of October next year the minimum age to play the National Lottery will increase from 16 to 18.
‘Protecting young people from the risk of gambling-related harm is of paramount importance,’ he said.
‘We have therefore decided to increase the minimum age of the sale of all National Lottery games to the age of 18.
‘We are keen to make this change at pace while being acutely aware of the need to give retailers and the operator time to ensure a smooth transition.
Mr Huddleston said that while the rules will be formally changed next October the Government is aiming to ban the sale of lottery tickets to under 18s online from next April
‘The legislative change will therefore come into force in October 2021 but we have asked that where it can be done sooner, it is done sooner – for example, online.
‘So, under current plans, National Lottery sales to 16 and 17-year-olds will stop online in April 2021.
‘The review we are starting today will be an opportunity to look at the wider rules on children and gambling and to make sure they are suitably protected across all forms of gambling.’
As well as looking at stake and spend limits, the review will also examine advertising and promotional offers and online restrictions.