New report calls on government to ignore 'paternalistic' gambling proposals

Proposals which could limit the amount of money people can spend on gambling have been described as "extraordinarily paternalistic" in a new report.

The study, published by right-wing think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, also claims calls from campaigners for measures such as a bans on advertising and VIP schemes, stake limits and slower gameplay would do little to combat problem gambling, prove detrimental to sport and push people to the black market.

A Gambling Commission consultation which closed in February included proposals for affordability checks which could lead to customers who lose as little as £100 in a month needing to prove they could afford to lose more.

This has caused huge concern within British racing, with estimates the sport could lose anything from £60 million to £100m a year in levy and media rights income if the most draconian proposals were adopted.

The section on deposit limits in the report, titled 'A Safer Bet: Gambling and the risks of over-regulation', describes the freedom of adults to choose how they spend their money as "a basic right in a free society".

It goes on: "There is no other market in which consumers are restrained by the state from spending more than a certain amount of money. It is inconceivable that anyone would suggest rationing the amount people can spend on other 'social and cultural activities', let alone at a level that is less than the price of a modest restaurant meal."

The report instead says that best practice in reducing gambling harm from across the industry should be consolidated, formalised and made legally binding as part of the government's review of the 2005 Gambling Act.

The report's author Christopher Snowdon said: "Regulated online operators use a range of practical harm reduction measures which advance the government’s objectives without infringing the rights of the average punter or handing a competitive advantage to the unregulated sector.

"It is these practical solutions, not the blunt tools of anti-gambling activists, that could be the focus of the government’s review."

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