Inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm: 5th oral evidence session

Topic: Regulation of loot boxes

Date: Monday 3 April 2023

Time: 12:00pm

Location: Room 29, Parliament Buildings, Stormont

Chairperson: Robbie Butler MLA

Minutes taken by: James Mayne, Chambré

Members Present

·        Robbie Butler MLA

·        Philip McGuigan MLA

·        Maolíosa McHugh MLA

·        Paul Frew MLA

·        Mark H Durkan MLA

Apologies

·        Danny Donnelly MLA

Secretariat

·        Will Chambré – Chambré

·        James Mayne - Chambré

·        Dara Keeve – Chambré

·        Rohan Boyle - Chambré

External Guests

·        Aphra Kerr – Maynooth University

·        Barry Grant – Extern Problem Gambling

·        Bryan Leonard - HSCNI

·        Carol Reid – Department for Communities

·        Ciaran Mee – Department for Communities

·        Debbie Sharp – Department of Health

·        Diane Owens – CCEA

·        Ed Sipler

·        Ellen Finley – Samaritans

·        Emer Boyle

·        Fiona Geary

·        Kev Clelland - YGAM

·        Laura Henderson

·        Leon Y.Xiao – University of Copenhagen

·        Lynn Hackworth – Department of Education

·        Mark McQuade – Assembly Education Committee

·        Martin Jones – Gambling With Lives

·        Maura Brown

·        Michael Smyth – Department for Communities

·        Noeleen McGreer

·        Professor Sarah Mills – University of Loughborough

·        Riona McCauley – Philip McGuigan’s office

·        Scott Taylor

·        Sharon Hughes – Education Authority

·        Steve Watts – GamFam

·        Thomas McKeever – Royal College of Psychiatrists

Minutes

1.      Welcome

Robbie Butler MLA welcomed members to the meeting.

2.      Minutes of last meeting

Members agreed that the minutes of the last meeting (27 March) were a true and accurate representation of that meeting. This was proposed by Philip McGuigan MLA and seconded by Danny Donnelly MLA (via email subsequent to meeting.)

4.      Matters arising

None.

5.      Introductory remarks

The Chairperson opened by recapping the fourth oral evidence session on the APG’s inquiry, which focused on the perspectives from health professionals and charities groups. Steve Watts, CEO of GamFam and Will Prochaska, Strategy Director at Gambling with Lives presented to the group on 27 March. He then introduced Dr Leon Xiao from the University of Copenhagen and Laura Henderson.

6.      Inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harms in NI: 5th oral evidence session - The impact of gambling on health and wellbeing:

The following presented:

Dr Leon Xiao, University of Copenhagen

Laura Henderson

The witnesses then took questions from members.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their presentations, and members for their questions.

7.      AOB

None

8.      Next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Monday 24 April at 12:00pm via Zoom.