§ The Earl of Shrewsburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the statement of the Director of Gamcare (the national centre for information advice and practical help on the social impact of gambling) that their proposed ban of Pronto! lotteries is hypocritical.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)I understand that the Director of Gamcare, Mr. Paul Bellringer, has not made any such statement. On the contrary, Gamcare has welcomed the Government's announcement about the need to restrict the frequency of on-line lottery draws.
The noble Lord may be referring to a remark made by Dr. Mark Griffiths, Chairman of Gamcare, which he made in his independent capacity as a psychologist at North Trent University. Dr. Griffiths was referring to the fact that gambling in the form of gaming machines is already available in public houses.
The reasons for government action were made clear in the announcement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office in another place on 13 November. The Government are not seeking to ban Pronto but to amend the legislation to restrict the frequency of on-line lottery draws for social policy reasons.
The Government have pointed out that gaming machines in public houses are subject to strict statutory controls which ensure that they are an ancillary facility there. In contrast, there are inadequate controls over 163WA frequent draw on-line lottery games, which have only emerged since the 1976 Act was passed.
The Government will shortly be publishing a draft Bill to restrict the frequency of on-line society and local authority lotteries. There will be an opportunity to comment on the terms of the Bill before it is introduced to Parliament.