UK Labour Party to get stricter on bookies

Labour calls for bookie adverts ban during TV sport but racing could be spared
BY SCOTT BURTON 10:32AM 20 SEP 2018
A future Labour government would impose a ban on bookmaker advertising during live sports coverage - but racing could escape being caught up in a measure that would drastically reduce its attractiveness to broadcasters.

In a raft of proposals announced by Tom Watson, the party's shadow minister for culture, media and sport, Labour would also introduce a statutory one per cent levy on bookmakers to fund research and treatment programmes for gambling addicts, as well as implementing a ban on betting through credit cards.

Watson told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Amongst a number of proposals we are saying we would ban in-game betting advertising.

"We are doing that because we were very struck with clinicians - people who are specialists in dealing with gambling addiction - who said that this is a particular problem and it has developed as these kinds of products have developed over the decade."

However, in a statement that will ease fears across racing, the document's summary of recommendations states: "We will consult with sports governing bodies and professional leagues widely before implementing this and will consider limited exemptions for sports intrinsically linked to gambling such as horseracing."

Watson also outlined Labour's plans to make the bookmaking industry much more financially involved in funding treatment and and research into the causes and effects of problem gambling.

"Secondly, there is an existing voluntary levy that yields about £10 million a year," added Watson, who is also Labour's deputy leader and has led a consultation process on the subject over the last year.

"If everyone paid, it would yield £14-£15 million a year. We are saying that it should be compulsory, it should be one per cent, which would bring in about £140m a year. That would allow us to treat more gambling addicts when they require help with their condition."