Northern Ireland Focusing On 'Practical Changes', Advertising A Matter For DCMS

November 26, 2024
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Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities hopes to issue an initial gambling industry code of practice in 2025, as pressure mounts on the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) to update the country’s advertising rules.
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Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities (DfC) hopes to issue an initial gambling industry code of practice in 2025, as pressure mounts on the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport (DCMS) to update the country’s advertising rules.

A spokesperson for the DfC: “It has already been concluded that it will be impossible to bring forward new gambling legislation in Northern Ireland within the shortened time frame of the current Assembly mandate”, which ends in 2027.

“The current focus therefore is on practical changes that can be delivered within the remainder of that mandate,” the DfC told Vixio GamblingCompliance.

The DfC is consulting on its plans for issuing an initial gambling industry code of practice using new powers created under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Act 2022.

Proposals include banning credit payments, individual operator-led self-exclusion schemes and a raft of changes aimed at preventing underage gambling in land-based venues and other player protection-centric changes, such as banning ATMs in gambling premises.

The consultation closes on December 24, 2024.

“Depending on the outcome, the Department hopes to be in a position to issue an initial Code in 2025,” the DfC said.

On November 19, the All-Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling (APG) was briefed on the code by members of the DfC.

During questioning by members of the APG, the DfC explained that it is an “initial” code because it will be updated or added to in the future.

Additionally, the DfC said enforcement against breaches of the code and decisions on licences will be made by the courts and local councils. 

One major issue flagged by the APG was the appeal of gambling marketing to young people and what could be done; however, the DfC has no remit over advertising.

Advertising regulation, including gambling advertising, “is a reserved matter. Any decision on new gambling advertising restrictions would be a matter, in the first instance, for the DCMS,” the DfC said to Vixio.

The APG has now written to the DCMS urging it to “take immediate action” on gambling advertising to protect people “from further gambling-related harm”.

“While remote gambling operators licensed by the Gambling Commission can freely advertise in Northern Ireland, as online and broadcast advertising is a reserved matter, our population is afforded no protection by the regulator,” the letter states.

The DCMS has not yet responded to the letter.

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