Matt Hancock: vital that gambling review does not undermine racing industry

Racing must not be undermined by the government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act, according to Matt Hancock MP, amid fears the industry could lose more than £60 million a year if stringent affordability checks are imposed on punters.

Hancock, whose West Suffolk constituency contains Newmarket, said he had recently spoken with the gambling minister Chris Philp about the importance of “striking a balance” when it came to shielding people from gambling addiction, while not damaging racing in the long term.

“I was working on this only last week when I met the minister responsible, Chris Philp,” said Hancock.

“The point of the gambling review is to try and bring the legislation up into the modern age, but I made it clear to the minister that while I understand and agree with the need to protect people from problem gambling, we must not undermine the horseracing industry in doing that. It’s about striking a balance.”

Hancock, who resigned as health secretary last summer, was previously secretary of state for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, during which time he slashed the maximum stakes per spin on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) to £2 from £100 in a process designed to protect bettors from problem gambling in betting shops.

Hancock said: “Representing Newmarket, you understand both sides of the equation. Firstly, the harm that problem gambling can cause – and I’ve made my stand over this in the past as regards FOBTs. On the other hand, there is the joy that horseracing can bring and gambling is a key part of that pursuit.

“For most people, gambling is an enjoyable pastime but you’ve also got to protect against those for whom it becomes a life-affecting addiction.”

Chris Philp: has been lobbied by MPs with links to racing communities

Hancock is one of a number of MPs with links to racing communities who have lobbied Philp in recent weeks as the racing and betting industries await the publication of the government’s white paper on the Gambling Act, a review of which was launched in 2020 to make the legislation “fit for the digital age”.

Among the possible consequences of any changes to the act is the introduction of affordability checks on punters by bookmakers, requiring personal information such as bank statements to be shared with layers.

Racing has forecast this could cost it upwards of £60m a year in lost revenue from the levy with punters preferring not to bet, or doing so with black market firms who do not pay betting tax.

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