Government questioned on impacts of delayed consultation on Gambling Impact Assessments

The Government is facing renewed scrutiny over delays to a planned consultation on Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs), with ministers being pressed on whether the postponement risks undermining efforts to understand and mitigate gambling-related harm.

In a Written Parliamentary Question tabled in the House of Commons, ministers were asked what assessment had been made of the impact of delaying the consultation on GIAs and what steps were being taken to ensure local authorities and other stakeholders are not disadvantaged by the delay.

At present, there is no statutory requirement for Gambling Impact Assessments under the Gambling Act framework. However, campaigners argue that formalising their use would provide local decision-makers with stronger evidence when considering licensing applications and local gambling policies.

What are Gambling Impact Assessments?

Gambling Impact Assessments are structured evaluations designed to identify and assess the likely effects of gambling activity on individuals and communities. Similar in concept to Health Impact Assessments used in planning and public health, GIAs seek to examine issues such as:

• the prevalence of gambling-related harm within a local area;

• the vulnerability of specific population groups;

• the cumulative impact of gambling premises;

• links between gambling and wider social outcomes, including debt, family breakdown and mental health pressures; and

• measures that could mitigate identified risks.