UK Health Committee to Investigate Gambling-Related Harms and Public Health Response
On Wednesday, April 2, the Health and Social Care Select Committee will meet to examine the gambling landscape and the potential harms caused by new gambling products. MPs will explore how to improve public health responses and address gambling-related harms.
The State of Gambling in the UK
In 2023, around 25 million people in England gambled. The gambling industry’s gross gambling yield (GGY) reached £15.6 billion for the financial year ending in March 2024. As the industry grows, concerns over its impact on society and health increase. The government aims to reduce the stigma around seeking help for gambling-related harms.
MPs will discuss the necessary steps to create a public health strategy for gambling harms. They will ask witnesses about the role of public health teams in local authorities and their ability to reduce gambling-related risks. MPs will also examine whether current rules are sufficient to protect vulnerable individuals, including children.
The Statutory Levy and Future Regulatory Actions
The UK government introduced a statutory levy on gambling operators in November 2024. This levy will fund prevention work. From April 2025, the Gambling Commission will collect and manage the levy under government guidance.
MPs will ask experts about commissioning effective treatment and prevention services in light of the levy. They will also focus on the Gambling Commission’s role in ensuring that funds are used for harm reduction.
Key Witnesses
Several experts will provide insights during the session:
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Professor Sam Chamberlain – Professor of Psychiatry, University of Southampton and Director of the Southern Gambling Treatment Clinic.
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Professor Heather Wardle – Co-Chair of the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling and Professor of Gambling Research and Policy, University of Glasgow.
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Lucy Hubber – Director of Public Health, Nottingham and member of the Association of Directors of Public Health.
From 10:30 am, additional witnesses include:
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Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE – National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms.
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Andrew Vereker – Deputy Director for Tobacco, Alcohol, and Gambling, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
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Tim Miller – Executive Director of Research and Policy, Gambling Commission.
This session marks an important step in the UK’s efforts to improve its response to gambling-related harms.