UK Labour seeks new ombudsman to rein in gambling sector

The UK Labour Party will appoint a new ombudsman to oversee the gambling industry, assuming the party wins the next general election.

On Monday, the Guardian reported that Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson planned a speech at the Demos thinktank in which he would publicly call for the creation of a new gambling ombudsman to ensure greater consumer protections.

Watson (pictured) reportedly planned to say that Labour would put a stop to “unclear terms and conditions, a lack of transparency, a lack of framework,” all of which Labour believes are “fuelled by predatory bonus offers.”

Watson’s plan involves a new trio of gambling industry overseers, with the new ombudsman joining the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure UK gambling operators are dealing fairly with their customers while minimizing potential harms caused by their products.