Illegal Gambling Taskforce - terms of reference
The taskforce will bring together a range of stakeholders including gambling bodies and law enforcement to tackle illegal gambling.
Objectives
The Illegal Gambling Taskforce will work towards identifying solutions to and providing recommendations on reducing the negative impacts of specific challenges relating to illegal gambling. It will do this by agreeing upon and delivering a programme of work for each of the following:
- preventing or reducing payments from and to illegal gambling operators
- tackling online advertising of illegal gambling
- improving cross-agency collaboration and enforcement work regarding illegal remote and land-based gambling
A sub-group will be established to address each of these issues and will inform the taskforce of progress and of any recommendations.
Purpose
The taskforce aims to identify solutions to the issues identified by the taskforce and its sub-groups in relation to the facilitation and promotion of illegal gambling, particularly online. It will not be the role of the taskforce to direct or intervene in operational matters performed by the Gambling Commission.
The role and remit of the taskforce may evolve as priorities and challenges are identified by members. Any changes will be identified and agreed by the taskforce in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Chair and Secretariat and the terms of reference amended if necessary.
Frequency and duration
The taskforce will run for 12 months, at which point the remit and membership of the taskforce will be reviewed and renewed if necessary. The taskforce will meet at least twice a year. The sub-groups will be responsible for determining the frequency of their meetings. However, we recommend sub-groups meet at least quarterly in order to inform the twice yearly taskforce meetings.
Membership
The taskforce will be chaired by the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling and will include a mix of experts and industry participants from the gambling industry, tech platforms and payment providers, the Gambling Commission and other regulators, government departments, and trade bodies. Names of specific organisations and individuals that are members will not be published. DCMS’s Director of Sport and Gambling, will act as co-chair. Other relevant stakeholders may be invited by the government to take part on specific agenda items or in the sub-groups.
Role of members
Taskforce members will:
- commit to contributing proactively to the work of the taskforce, which will include attending and contributing to meetings and participating in sub-groups as necessary. If members are unable to attend, the chair can approve substitutes to attend individual meetings.
- participate in the established sub-groups to develop and take forward action on the specified areas in between meetings
- jointly agree to the objectives and role of the sub-groups. Sub-groups may include members from outside the taskforce membership.
- support and deliver non-legislative solutions regarding advertising and payment services on behalf of their own organisations and through facilitating action from industry
- develop recommendations on how best to deliver the objectives of the taskforce
Secretariat and logistics
The Secretariat for the Taskforce will be led by DCMS officials. The secretariat will be responsible for arranging meetings, circulating any papers at least three working days in advance of meetings, and issuing minutes and actions of meetings within seven working days of each meeting. The secretariat will also coordinate progress on the agreed actions taken at meetings and gain agreement for agenda items with members in advance of each meeting. Meetings will be held under the Chatham House rule.