National Statistics on Problem Gambling

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 30 January 2019.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 2:14, 30 January 2019

I welcome the work that's being done to improve the availability of data on problem gambling. It is an issue that we need to take more concerted action on to address. I wonder, in terms of some of the other action that you could take, whether you can tell us whether any consideration has been given to the use of business rates as an opportunity to reduce the impact, if you like, of the cumulative number of shops that appear to be popping up in some communities across Wales on local high streets. You will know that we've raised concerns in this Chamber in the past about the fact that some communities, particularly impoverished communities, in Wales, appear to be targeted by unscrupulous gambling companies with a proliferation of betting shops. Is there something that you can do to increase business rates in a punitive way in order to reduce the potential impact of those shops on those communities?