Public want tough new gambling laws for Northern Ireland - poll

The vast majority of the public want to see strict new laws to protect people from problem gambling and 60% want a complete ban on gambling advertising in NI according to a poll published today.

The research by Survation was unveiled at the launch of a Stormont Inquiry by the All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling. It is examining how best to reform Northern Ireland’s obsolete gambling legislation which predates the Internet.

Northern Ireland has the highest incidence of problem gambling on these islands. In 2016, a Department for Communities survey identified 2.3% of the population as having a gambling problem. This is more than four times higher than that recorded in Britain and almost three times higher than in the Republic of Ireland. International studies suggest that the suicide rate among people with a gambling disorder is 15 times that of the general population.

The research which was commissioned by the Clean Up Gambling campaign shows widespread support for reforms, limits on, and better regulation of gambling.

Committee chair Robbie Butler MLA said:

“Support for change cuts across all sections of society, with people from all political traditions uniting in demanding reform. Over the next few weeks, we will be examining what needs to be done to  reduce gambling-related harms and as part of that process we will be inviting organisations and individuals to write in with their submissions.

“We will also be hearing oral evidence from November. Once our report is completed, we will send our recommendations to the Northern Ireland Executive. What is already clear is that new regulations should be focused on protecting vulnerable people and their families, putting the consumer first. ”

Vice-chair Philip McGuigan MLA added:

“Legislation here is hopelessly out of date. The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Order predates both Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and the internet.  Reform is well overdue. Across the world gambling related harm  is increasingly being recognised as a serious public health problem. We need to treat it as such here. That means putting measures in place which help prevent gambling-related harm arising in the first place.”

Poll findings include:

• 80% want limits on how much customers can deposit in online gambling accounts;

• 80% want online gambling to be subject to the same rules and limits as land-based gambling;

• 60% want to see an outright ban on gambling advertising;

• Just 20% believe that current gambling regulations do a good job protecting customers.

In addition, there is overwhelming support (75%) for the creation of an independent gambling regulator, and 73% want an ombudsman to oversee consumer protection. 74% of people also believe that there should be a legal requirement for gambling companies to spend a proportion of profits on  research, education, treatment and prevention of problem gambling.