Betting restrictions proposed in a new UK government white paper have been welcomed by an all-party group of MLAs formed to reduce the harm caused by gambling, but they warned more must be done to regulate it in the north.
The paper features proposals designed to bring the law up to date since the introduction of technology that makes gambling easily accessible, including smartphone apps.
They include stake limits on slot machines, and check-ins with gamblers following large losses of money over specified periods of time.
UK culture secretary Lucy Frazer said in a foreword to the paper: "It has become clear that we must do more to protect those at risk of addiction and associated unaffordable losses."
UUP MLA Robbie Butler, who chairs the Stormont All-Party Group formed in 2020, said: “Whilst we welcome the release of this publication, it is concerning that although the review goes some way to acknowledging that the gambling industry should face tougher regulation and that more should be done to protect adults and children, the stark fact is that online gambling continues to be unregulated in Northern Ireland.”
Vice chair, Sinn Féin's Philip McGuigan, has previously spoken of his own gambling addiction that saw him lose £100,000 over eight years.
He said: "Whilst we are pleased to see the publication of the white paper with proposals that are being described as a ‘turning point’ in GB, we have a long road to travel in trying to bring the north’s regulations up to date.
"The All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related Gambling is committed to working to bring about gambling reform which will be fit for the digital world in which we live and we will continue to keep it top of the Stormont agenda.”
