APG meets with Minister for Communities
Yesterday (Tuesday 30 April), MLAs from the Stormont All Party Group (APG) for Reducing Harm Related to Gambling met with Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons (DUP, East Antrim), to discuss gambling-related harm in NI and progress on gambling reform.
The APG Chair, Philip McGuigan (Sinn Féin, North Antrim) and Treasurer Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim) briefed the Minister on the APG's recent activities, including the nearing completion of its Inquiry into Public Health Approaches to tackling Gambling-Related Harms in NI. The final report of this inquiry will be launched at a Stormont event on Monday 24 June, and will make a series of recommendations to the Executive.
The MLAs emphasised to the Minister the need to fully implement the provisions of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries & Amusements (Amendment) Act 2022. Minister Lyons confirmed that his department have commenced preparatory work on implementing the Codes of Practice, which are subject to secondary legislation, and which would involve consultation with stakeholder groups, and on the full and effective implementation of all the provisions of the 2022 Act.
The APG questioned the Minister on the progress of the next phase of gambling legislation and asked about the timeline for introducing a Bill to the Assembly. The Minister confirmed that the remainder of this mandate would be used to ensure the Bill would be ready to be introduced as soon as possible at the start of the next mandate, and acknowledged this would be the biggest piece of legislation ever passed by the Assembly.
The MLAs also raised the need for updated research on gambling prevalence, noting that the last survey in NI was conducted in 2016 and that smartphone use and the proliferation of online gambling has likely increased gambling risks. Minster Lyons responded that the Department is currently in the process of commissioning a gambling prevalence survey.
In response to MLAs questions regarding NI receiving a share of the upcoming gambling levy in GB, the Minister expressed his support and confirmed the department had made representations to DCMS to get a share of the levy. The Minister said he was also supportive of NI getting a share of this levy towards research education and research. He clarified that work on the commencement of a levy here has not happened yet because the Treasury would need to approve any proposal.