Found: A GAMBLING OMBUDSMAN The Committee’s recommendations: • The intention to establish a gambling ombudsman

Found: These consultations will close in February 2024. 37 Work to establish a Gambling Ombudsman (which we

Found: Q291 Simon Jupp: I want to talk about the gambling ombudsman.

Found: with land-based venues - including a £2 stake on harmful slot content. 2.The establishment of a Gambling

Found: Potential barriers to delivering a Gambling Ombudsman 8.The need for an ombudsman in the gambling

Found: will enhance protections around cashless payments. 1.6 The BGC also welcomes the establishment of a gambling

Found: However, we aspire to evolve into the first Gambling Ombudsman – and have published an outline plan

Found: discussions on the introduction of the statutory levy, as well as the creation of the proposed gambling

Found: The GBG is fully supportive of the introduction of a Gambling Ombudsman but is keen to ensure that

Found: Written evidence submitted by Professor Jim Orford Summary Most welcome proposals: A statutory levy A gambling

Found: Q291 Simon Jupp: I want to talk about the gambling ombudsman.

Found: Q260 Kevin Brennan: What is your view about the gambling ombudsman proposals in the White Paper

Found: Q260 Kevin Brennan: What is your view about the gambling ombudsman proposals in the White Paper

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent ombudsman to enforce gambling operators’ duty of care.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Following the Government’s review of the Gambling Act 2005, and the Gambling White Paper, published in April 2023, we are introducing a package of measures to further prevent gambling-related harm, including a commitment to establish a non-statutory ombudsman to strengthen protections for customers where things go wrong. The body will adjudicate complaints, including those relating to social responsibility or gambling harm, where an operator is not able to.

We are working at pace with industry and all stakeholders in the sector, including the Ombudsman Association, to ensure customers have access to an ombudsman that is fully operationally independent in line with Ombudsman Association standards, and is fully credible in the eyes of customers. As set out in the white paper, it is important that the body adjudicates fairly and transparently all complaints regarding social responsibility or gambling harm issues where an operator is not able to resolve these.

We remain clear that if this approach does not deliver as we expect, or shortcomings emerge regarding the ombudsman’s remit, powers or relationship with industry, the government will actively explore the full range of options to legislate to create a statutory ombudsman.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on establishing an ombudsman for the gambling sector since publication of the Gambling Review in April 2023.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We are working at pace with industry and all stakeholders in the sector, including the Ombudsman Association, to ensure customers have access to an ombudsman that is fully operationally independent in line with Ombudsman Association standards, and is fully credible in the eyes of customers. As set out in the white paper, it is important that the body adjudicates fairly and transparently all complaints regarding social responsibility or gambling harm issues where an operator is not able to resolve these.

We remain clear that if this approach does not deliver as we expect, or shortcomings emerge regarding the ombudsman’s remit, powers or relationship with industry, the government will actively explore the full range of options to legislate to create a statutory ombudsman.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to section four of the White Paper entitled High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age, what progress her Department has made on establishing an ombudsman to rule on social responsibility complaints.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

As set out in the Gambling White Paper, the Government is working with industry and all stakeholders to establish an appropriate ombudsman that can adjudicate complaints relating to social responsibility or gambling harm where an operator is not able to resolve these.

We expect the ombudsman to be operational and accepting cases by summer 2024.