HL Deb 26 March 1998 vol 587 cc259-60WA
Lord Willoughby de Broke

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their view of the likely relative tendency to encourage under-age gambling of Pronto! compared with the National Lottery, scratch cards and slot machines, given that Pronto! has an age limit of 18 and is to be situated mainly in licensed premises. [HL1063]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The statutory minimum age for playing lotteries, including on-line games and scratchcards, is 16. This is also the minimum age for playing the National Lottery. Apart from access to the £10 all-cash amusement-with-prizes machines in amusement arcades, there is no minimum age limit for gaming machines in places open to the public. However, prizes are limited to a maximum of £10. Under the law, any person over the age of 14 may enter the bar of a public house. Recent research published by Oflot suggested 8 per cent. of under 16s played fruit machines in pubs.

The promoters of Pronto!, an on-line lottery, have chosen to set their own age limit at 18 and to site their terminals mainly in licensed premises. This has no effect on the statutory position, and the promoters could at any time choose to relax their self-imposed constraint. In consulting on the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill, the Government's main concern has been the risk to players of any age from rapid, repetitive games in premises not licensed for gambling.

Lord Beaverbrook

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, by restricting the game of Pronto! to players aged 18 or over and by situating terminals in licensed premises, the ability of under-age players to participate is severely restricted. [HL1029]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The statutory minimum age for playing lotteries, including on-line games and scratchcards, is 16. This is also the minimum age for playing the National Lottery. Apart from access to the £10 all-cash amusement—with prizes machines in amusement arcades, there is no minimum age limit for gaming machines in places open to the public. However, prizes are limited to a maximum of £10. Under the law, any person over the age of 14 may enter the bar of a public house. Recent research published by Oflot suggested 8 per cent. of under 16s played fruit machines in pubs.

The promoters of Pronto!, an on-line lottery, have chosen to set their own age limit at 18 and to site their terminals mainly in licensed premises. This has no effect on the statutory position, and the promoters could at any time choose to relax their self-imposed constraint. In consulting on the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill, the Government's main concern has been the risk to players of any age from rapid, repetitive games in premises not licensed for gambling.