AQW 2440/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 20/02/2020
Answered On Date: 16/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities what plans she has to develop legislation to enforce responsible gambling, including the timescale, with particular regard to restricting the use of fixed odds betting terminals.

Answer:

The current legislation on gambling is outdated; it has not kept pace with industry and technological changes and does not contain adequate protections for vulnerable people, such as social responsibility requirements for gambling operators.

A consultation on the “Regulation of Gambling in NI” was launched on 16 December 2019 and closed on 21 February 2020. The purpose of the consultation is to seek views on the appropriateness of the current law and to identify areas of gambling activity which should be included in any future legislation. The operation of gaming machines, including fixed odds betting terminals, was part of the consultation. My officials will analyse the responses received and I hope to announce the way forward by the summer.