Gambling limits ‘an invasion of privacy’
PROPOSALS to make gamblers prove they can afford to bet are an invasion of privacy and will create a “bureaucratic nightmare” it has been claimed.
Northwest Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen has spoken out against the recommendations, which are suggesting a £100 monthly cap on betting losses.
He said: “Such a move would be a bureaucratic nightmare, raise huge data protection issues and undoubtedly drive punters either away from the pastime or worse, into the black market.”
He said if the proposals became law they could bankrupt sport, particularly horse racing, which is already reeling from the financial crisis caused by Covid.
The plans, which will also regulate controversial fixed odds betting machines, are being consulted on before the Government puts forward a bill.
But Mr Bridgen said: “It would cause huge financial problems in sport, at a time they can least afford it. It would be an existential threat to racing which is reliant on betting turnover.
“This is a sledgehammer to crack a nut and fails to appreciate problem gambling is higher in some products than others. Online slot machines have much higher rates of problem gambling than, for example, betting on horses or football.”
The row has already seen MPS with racing in their constituencies up in arms about the proposals.
A Government spokeswoman said the proposals were not yet endorsed by the Government.
She said there are concerns about the effects oftony Blair’s Labour government “over deregulating” gambling in 2005.
But she added the Government “will be coming up with its own proposals” when legislation is brought forward.