Under 18s are set to be banned from playing the National Lottery in a government shake-up of gambling regulations.
Currently, children over the age of 16 can buy scratchcards in shops and spend up to £350 a week gambling on fixed odds games online.
Ministers announced the minimum age for players will go up from 16 to 18 – but gave Camelot, which runs the lottery, up to ten months to implement the changes.
Under current plans, online sales to 16 and 17-year-olds will be banned from April.
Ministers are making the changes to ensure the National Lottery ‘is not a gateway to problem gambling’.
Government changes to the National Lottery will stop 16 and 17-year-olds from buying tickets online from April – with the ban effecting shops later next year. Ministers say the change is to ensure the lottery does not become a ‘gateway into problem gambling’
Announcing a review into gambling laws today, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: ‘Whilst millions gamble responsibly, the Gambling Act is an analogue law in a digital age.
‘From an era of having a flutter in a high street bookmaker, casino, racecourse or seaside pier, the industry has evolved at breakneck speed.
‘This comprehensive review will ensure we are tackling problem gambling in all its forms to protect children and vulnerable people. It will also help those who enjoy placing a bet to do so safely.
‘This builds upon our clear track record of introducing tough measures to protect people from the risk of gambling harm – banning the use of credit cards, launching tighter age verification checks and cutting the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals.’
Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage Nigel Huddleston said: ‘We’re committed to protecting young people from gambling related harm which is why we are raising the minimum age for the National Lottery.
The announcement came as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden declared a Government review into gambling legislation
‘Patterns of play have changed since its inception, with a shift towards online games, and this change will help make sure the National Lottery, although already low-risk, is not a gateway to problem gambling.’
Tory MP Richard Holden, who campaigned for the age change, said: ‘This extra delay means that thousands of vulnerable youngsters will be exposed to unlimited instant win gambling via scratchcards.’
Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for gambling, said she was pleased with the change but added: ‘Camelot should act now.’
Mr Dowden said: ‘This isn’t about any delay, it is a necessary implementation period.’
Children can spend up to £350 a week gambling on fixed odds games online
Tory MP Richard Holden, who campaigned for the age change, said the delay means that thousands of vulnerable youngsters will be exposed to unlimited instant win gambling
He added: ‘Camelot has to change the terms and conditions, the actual ticket slip, and then they have got to roll out all the small retailers.’
Camelot said: ‘We’ll be doing everything we can to implement all of the changes that will be necessary as quickly as possible, while ensuring that we maintain the very high standards demanded of The National Lottery.
‘We’ve already started this work in preparation and we’re aiming to complete all of the changes that are needed in our online channels by early April 2021 and, in our retail channel, over the course of the summer – well in advance of the change in law.’
The delay in making a decision to raise the age limit, which came after a review which finished in October 2019, had already sparked frustration.
In July a group of peers released a report into gambling that called for the age limit to be raised to 18 for all National Lottery products.
Camelot, which did not oppose the move, said it will take nine months to roll the changes out across the 44,000 shops who sell scratchcards.
The changes will come into force on its website in ‘early April’, it said, and bosses hope to push the changes through in shops ‘over the course of the summer’.