I welcome the measures being announced by the Gambling Commission today as further steps to address gambling related harm. It must not be simple for people to create gambling accounts without necessary age verification and identity checks.
Yesterday, I met with the Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Wright MP and Minister for Sport, Mims Davies MP to discuss a number of issues relating to gambling addiction such as FOBTs, online advertising rules and the increased prevalence of young people gambling.
I will be proposing a resolution to the upcoming SNP Conference which seeks support for classifying loot boxes as gambling rather than gaming and urging the UK Government to follow the lead of Belgium in banning these in-game options. If the UK Government do not take the necessary action then the powers should be transferred to the Scottish Parliament to allow it the opportunity to address the problem.
Ronnie Cowan MP 