A proponent of an advertising ban for online gambling in the UK has been included on the government’s gambling levy board.
Kevin Fenton has been appointed to the DCMS’ Gambling Levy Programme Board, which will be tasked with making decisions about the allocation of harms funding, amid ongoing questions over the politicisation of how research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm in the UK is funded.
Fenton previously co-authored a paper with campaigner Will Prochaska that argued for a staggered ad ban in the UK, culminating in a complete end to online gambling advertising within three years.
Concerns have been raised by the harm-prevention sector, reg-tech, and the industry itself over the new funding system potentially being used for political ends, such as by supporting campaign groups instead of investing in and supporting core treatment services.
