Gambling-related Harm Debate

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Department: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Laurence Robertson

Main Page: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)

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General Practice: Large Housing Developments

Gambling-related Harm

Laurence Robertson Excerpts

Smoke-free England
Tuesday 29th March 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Westminster Hall
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Laurence Robertson Portrait Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury) (Con)
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I draw the Chamber’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. There is a further point that has not been mentioned. I represent the Cheltenham racecourse, and 45% of horseracing’s income comes from bookmakers. It is extremely important that we tackle problem gambling. One problem gambler is one too many, but is not that statistic very important when the Government consider how to take a balanced approach? The entire sport of horseracing is very worried indeed about the potential loss of income in what is not a well-funded sport.

Craig Whittaker Portrait Craig Whittaker
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and we see that in snooker and darts as well, which rely on funding to ensure they remain popular.

I mentioned Norway and I will highlight a similar story in France, where online gambling is illegal and 57% of all gambling is done on the black market. In Bulgaria, it is 47%. In Italy, 23% of all money staked now goes to the black market. Here in the UK, although the figures are low in comparison, we have seen a large rise in online unregulated gambling, from 2.2% to 4.5% over the last 18 months. In unregulated, black market gambling—

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