Question reference: S5W-02091
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 23 August 2016
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to address the level of problem online gambling.
Answer
Betting, gaming and lotteries are reserved matters and their regulation is therefore primarily the responsibility of the UK Government. The Gambling Commission was set up by the UK Government under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling. Further information about online gambling legislation can be found on the commission’s website: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Gambling-sectors/Online/Remote.aspx
In the context of the Smith Commission, the Scottish Government argued for the full devolution of gambling policy to Scotland on the grounds that this would enable problem gambling in Scotland to be tackled more effectively. However, the subsequent Scotland Act 2016 included only a limited power in respect of the number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in new betting shops.