Gambling

Mr. McGovern 
14. To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to protect young and vulnerable people from gambling addiction.

Mr. Caborn
The Gambling Act 2005 will see the protection of children and vulnerable people placed at the heart of gambling regulation for the first time.

The measures it introduces include a new criminal offence, making it illegal to invite or permit children to gamble, and a requirement for gambling operators to comply with tough social responsibility measures to protect the young and vulnerable from gambling addiction.

Mr. Swire
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which gambling, betting and casino companies (a) Ministers and (b) officials have (i) met and (ii) spoken to on the telephone since 21 March 2007.

Mr. Caborn
Since 21 March 2007, departmental Ministers have met representatives of Ladbrokes plc.

Since 21 March 2007 officials have met or spoken on the telephone to employees of a number of companies with interests in the gambling, betting and casino sectors, in most instances in their capacity as representatives of relevant trade associations. Comprehensive records of telephone conversations are not kept. The companies involved include:

Astra Games

Bally Technologies

Barcrest

Bell Fruit Games

Betfair

Coral

Dreamland Leisure Ltd

Electrocoin

Gala Coral Group

Games Media

Harbour Park Amusement Park

HB Leisure

IGT Casino Ltd

Inspired Gaming Group

International Game Technology

Ladbrokes

London Clubs International

Mitchell and Butler's

Mumbles Pier

Paddy Power

Party Gaming

Rank Group

Sky Bet

Stanley Bet International

Stanley Leisure

Talarius

Tote

William Hill.

In addition, officials have attended wider industry events (for example, the annual general meeting of the Bingo Association) which included participants from a number of relevant companies. Officials have also met or spoken to representatives of a small number of independent bookmakers.