One Last Spin is a film about gambling related harms. It has been widely used inn community settings and for professional training. The film has been praised for its high impact and for raising many issues for discussion. It is now free to use and share. Watch it here. Please be aware that the film contains content which may be distressing for some viewers, including several references to suicidal ideation and one dramatised sequence which represents a curtailed intention to take life.

Since the film’s release in 2022 there have been some developments.

It is important to be clear that the Scottish Government does not have devolved powers to regulate gambling which remain in Westminster.

Ronnie Cowan who features in the film was MP for Inverclyde and Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm. Ronnie stepped away from his MP role at the 2024 general election. The Gambling Related Harm APPG has been replaced by the Gambling Reform APPG.

When the film was made, despite the government’s repeated indications that it would ‘soon’ publishthe White Paper, a major step towards a new Gambling Act for the digital age, it did not appear until April 2023. It has, since then, led to about 60 consultations but some things have been decided:

• The ‘voluntary levy’ which gambling companies donated to charities which provide support to those suffering from gambling harms is to be replaced by a compulsory levy This will average at 1%, depending on gambling sector, and is set to raise £100 million annually. Some of this will come to Scotland and, presumably, there will be bidding competition between agencies.
• Maximum stakes on online ‘slots’ (which are associated with high levels of harm) are to be set at £5, £2 for under 25s.
• New rules to protect consumers and boost operator transparency include afforability checks.

One notable absence in the White Paper is any attention to gambling industry marketing including advertising and sports sponsorship. This area is highlighted in our film by Ronnie Cowan as in need of urgent attention, and is an important focus of many lived experience organisations campaigning for reform.