NORTH West Durham MP Richard Holden has welcomed the Culture Secretary’s launch of a wide-ranging review of gambling laws and backing raising the age at which the National Lottery can sell tickets to 18 years and over.

Mr Holden, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm has been pushing for the changes in Parliament.

The powers of the Gambling Commission will be looked at, as will online restrictions and how gambling is marketed.

How gambling has changed over the past 15 years will be studied as part of the review, as will protections for online gamblers, including advertising, promotional offers and whether extra promotions are needed for young adults.

All the findings will be used to ensure that changes made to the Gambling Act 2005 put customer protection at the centre of the regulations, ensuring people are able to gamble safely.

The review will also look at what action customers take and are able to take when they feel operators have breached social responsibility requirements like intervening to protect vulnerable gamblers and keeping young people safe from harm, financial or otherwise, as a result of gambling.

Mr Holden said: “I am delighted that the Government has launched this review into our current gambling laws and really welcome this step – it’s hugely important as we look at reviewing the Gambling Act 2005 and ensuring it works for this digital age.

“It is particularly welcome that the Government is going to immediately act on under 18 gambling, an issue that I have been campaigning on, especially as gambling is so easily accessible online.

“From my work on the PAC to look into the Gambling Commission, and from my work on the Gambling Related Harm APPG, as well as my constituency work, and I really welcome this review and the difference that it will make.”