Letter to Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Culture Secretary, 14 Nov 2008

Letter Sent (and response) to Jeremy Hunt MP for South West Surrey, Shadow Culture Secretary 14th November 2008:

-----Original Message-----
From: HUNT, Jeremy <email deleted>
To: anthonyfranklin <email deleted>
Sent: Mon, Nov 24, 2008 9:00 pm
Subject: RE: Copy of letter sent to Prime Minister, ref: Gambling and credit.

Dear Mr Franklin,

Thank you for getting in touch about problem gambling. I completely share your views about the lack of leadership this government has shown in terms of setting the right regulatory environment for gambling. Gordon Brown made the symbolic gesture of cancelling the super casino whilst at the same time liberalising the laws for gambling advertising. The result of which is that not only can online gambling companies registered abroad operate here but they are also allowed to advertise - even if they do not reach UK standards on responsible gambling.

We are currently considering ways in which we could change this to ensure that companies advertising here have to meet high standards around age verification and credit checks. We are also considering why, if in land based casinos you can't use a credit card, in online ones you can. I am hoping to make an announcement on these issues in the near future. Once again thank you for letting me see your letter to the Prime Minister.

Best wishes,

Jeremy

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Jeremy Hunt

Member of Parliament

South West Surrey

Tel: 020 7219 xxxx

Fax: 020 7219 xxxx

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Anthony Franklin

Dear Mr Hunt,

I attach a copy of a letter that I sent recently to the Prime Minister to which I have received a standard acknowledgement response.

In my opinion the government has allowed the UK to become a paradise for the casino operators particularly in its failure to effectively regulate newer forms of gambling. (mobile/online gambling) So long as key equipment is in situ off shore then the gambling operators are free to compete for the UK market but are not subject to UK gambling legislation.

I can write in great detail about the dangers of gambling to society in general, much learned from my own experience as a recovering problem gambler. However one issue stands outs more than any other, and that is the issue of credit in conjunction with gambling.

It is well known that one of the devastating consequences of problem gambling is the enormous debts that are usually run up. It seems extremely unethical to me that the banks contribute to this problem by knowingly allowing credit to be used to fund gambling transactions. (through credit cards, and debit cards linked to overdrafts)

The banks have shown a tendency to greed, well highlighted by the current global financial crisis, and have in the past mistakenly believed that treating gambling transactions as cash advances will lead to increased profits for the banks. As we now experience the fallout from irresponsible lending maybe now is a good time to tackle this issue with the banking industry.

Best Regards,


Anthony Franklin