The Health and Social Care Select Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, April 2, at 9:30 a.m. to receive testimony from experts on gambling-related harm and addiction.
Lawmakers to hear more evidence on gambling-related harm
The committee will evaluate the evidence on the impacts of gambling-related harm on individuals and explore strategies for a more effective public health response. Lawmakers will take this opportunity to learn from prominent experts in the field and work towards developing a framework to enhance consumer protections industry-wide. This session occurs as gambling in England has reportedly involved around 25 million people in 2023. Lawmakers will particularly examine the role of public health teams within local authority services in mitigating gambling-related harm. They will also question experts about whether the existing safeguards sufficiently protect vulnerable populations, including children. Witnesses at the Wednesday sessions will include individual researchers as well as representatives from regulatory and health sectors. The UK has made strides toward an industry that better caters to its most vulnerable consumers. A key initiative is the introduction of a statutory levy for gambling operators starting this month. This levy is expected to generate funds for independent research, treatment options, and activities aimed at reducing gambling-related harm and enhancing well-being. Previously, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended that general practitioners ask patients about their gambling habits during routine inquiries about smoking and drinking.
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