Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal made by Rethink Gambling in their 2014 Gambling Manifesto that any new form of gambling, including new modes or types of venue, should be subject to a full social, health and economic impact assessment.

The Gambling Act 2005 created an independent regulator, the Gambling Commission, which has a duty to ensure gambling is consistent with the licensing objectives; keeping gambling free of crime, ensuring it is fair and open, and protecting children and vulnerable people from harm or exploitation.

The Commission regularly reviews its regulatory requirements to take account of developments in technology and in the market, and in response to emerging risks and issues. While welcoming innovation, it applies the precautionary principle to new products, or to innovation in other areas, when there is good reason to believe they might cause harm disproportionate to any benefits they might bring.