CALL FOR EVIDENCE: Gambling is a popular leisure activity in Britain, with millions of people buying lottery tickets, placing bets on sports events, going to the races, playing bingo, visiting casinos and arcades, and gambling online. Many people are employed both directly and indirectly through the sector, and HM Revenue & Customs records almost £4bn in betting and gaming duties.
At the same time, the development of addictive digital products has led to gambling-related harm becoming widely recognised as a public health issue. While gambling industry revenues rise, its GVA is the lowest of any DCMS sector. Official data on gambling prevalence, profit and harm has often been contested, making public policy in this area a challenge. And the role of the regulator has been criticised by successive select committes in Parliament.
All this matters, because of the prevalent nature of gambling in British society. Over £30m a week is generated for heritage projects, sports, the arts and charities through the National Lottery's good causes. Gambling advertising is widespread at every level of British sport. And gambling premises are prevalent in high streets across the country, particularly in areas of higher economic deprivation.
It is clear that more work is needed to understand fully the market realities, regulation and impact of this sector. This is why the Gambling Policy Commission has been launched, bringing together for the first time a group of leading economists to examine these questions.
The work of the Commission is independent of its funding and will be based on the written and oral evidence provided. We welcome evidence from researchers, consumers, operators, trade bodies, treatment and prevention organisations, sports organisations, policymakers and others with relevant experience or evidence. We particularly welcome empirical data on topics where the evidence base is lacking.
Evidence should be submitted in PDF format at gampol.org/call-for-evide…. This portal will close on Friday 12 February 2027. The Commission aims to publish submissions in due course.
www.gampol.org Call For Evidence — Gambling Policy Committee At the same time, the development of addictive digital products has led to gambling-related harm becoming widely recognised as a public health issue. While gambling industry revenues rise, its GVA is the lowest of any DCMS sector. Official data on gambling prevalence, profit and harm has often been contested, making public policy in this area a challenge. And the role of the regulator has been criticised by successive select committes in Parliament.
All this matters, because of the prevalent nature of gambling in British society. Over £30m a week is generated for heritage projects, sports, the arts and charities through the National Lottery's good causes. Gambling advertising is widespread at every level of British sport. And gambling premises are prevalent in high streets across the country, particularly in areas of higher economic deprivation.
It is clear that more work is needed to understand fully the market realities, regulation and impact of this sector. This is why the Gambling Policy Commission has been launched, bringing together for the first time a group of leading economists to examine these questions.
The work of the Commission is independent of its funding and will be based on the written and oral evidence provided. We welcome evidence from researchers, consumers, operators, trade bodies, treatment and prevention organisations, sports organisations, policymakers and others with relevant experience or evidence. We particularly welcome empirical data on topics where the evidence base is lacking.
Evidence should be submitted in PDF format at gampol.org/call-for-evide…. This portal will close on Friday 12 February 2027. The Commission aims to publish submissions in due course.
