Crausby EDM

It may also be of interest to readers that the following Early Day Motion was published in Parliament this morning by the Labour MP for Bolton North East, David Crausby. That this House notes with concern the rapid growth in the amount of advertising for online gambling being shown on television; also notes that at a time when people are suffering economic hardship due to the recession, a squeeze on family income and the escalating costs of basic necessities this type of gambling with ease has increased; and calls on the Government to review and monitor online gambling advertising with a view to restricting further growth of these type of advertisements. Mr. Crausby also wrote a question to the DCMS on this topic, asking what plans the Secretary of State 'has to restrict the amount of online gambling advertisements on television.' On behalf of the government, the Gambling Minister Hugh Robertson replied: The Government is not aware of evidence that the current advertising arrangements are jeopardising the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act, but if new compelling evidence emerged which clearly highlighted the need to look again at the restrictions in place it would, in the first instance, be for the appropriate regulators to consider and take action under their existing codes and regulations.