Andrew Bridgen cautions against over-zealous gambling regulation which could lead to some damaging unintended consequences, such as driving vulnerable individuals to the black market, loss of revenue to the Exchequer and damage to the greyhound and horse-racing industries, which employ lots of people.
Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)
The term “gambling” covers a broad spectrum of activities. Does the Minister share my concerns that over-zealous regulation of the gambling industry as a whole could lead to some damaging unintended consequences, such as driving vulnerable individuals to the black market, which is completely unregulated, loss of revenue to the Exchequer and damage to the greyhound and horse-racing industries, which employ lots of people?
Helen Whately (The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury)
My hon. Friend makes an important point. There is the basic principle that people should in general be free to spend their money as they see fit. There are about 100,000 jobs in the gambling industry in this country. It is important to ensure that we protect people who are most vulnerable from exploitation, and I know that the gambling review I mentioned is looking carefully at the best way to do that.