Gambling law shake-up plans are delayed yet again amid fears Boris Johnson could be forced to quit
- Proposals could see a ban on gambling firms sponsoring football team shirts
- But now it is feared that the White Paper will not appear until May at the earliest
- And it could be set back still further if Boris Johnson is forced to quit as PM
Long-awaited plans to tighten up gambling laws have been delayed again.
Ministers pledged to shake up the system in December 2020 amid concern that betting adverts were fuelling addiction.
The proposals, which could see a ban on gambling firms sponsoring football team shirts and limits on how much punters can lose online, were meant to be published by the end of last year.
But they were postponed as the minister responsible was changed in a reshuffle.
Ministers pledged to shake up the system in December 2020 amid concern that betting adverts were fuelling addiction [File photo]
Now it is feared that the White Paper will not appear until May at the earliest and could be set back still further if Boris Johnson is forced to quit as Prime Minister.
Labour MP Carolyn Harris told The Guardian: ‘Every day of delay leads to further gambling-related harm while the industry rakes in profits. The Government must not let its own internal problems stand in the way of much-needed reforms.’
Whitehall sources insisted last night that drafts of the paper had already been submitted but more work was needed.
Liz Ritchie, co-founder of charity Gambling With Lives, warned: ‘Someone takes their life every day in the UK because of gambling, so we simply cannot wait until May to see this white paper.
‘How many more families need to be shattered by highly addictive gambling products and predatory gambling industry practices before the Government acts?’
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment.
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