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| Quiz shows are gambling, say MPs | Quiz shows are gambling, say MPs |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Late-night quiz shows where viewers call premium rate telephone numbers to answer questions should be subject to gambling laws, a group of MPs has said. | Late-night quiz shows where viewers call premium rate telephone numbers to answer questions should be subject to gambling laws, a group of MPs has said. |
| The culture, media and sport committee criticised the shows for being unfair and called for greater regulation. | The culture, media and sport committee criticised the shows for being unfair and called for greater regulation. |
| They said viewers on such quiz channels were often egged-on to call even when they could not win any prizes. | They said viewers on such quiz channels were often egged-on to call even when they could not win any prizes. |
| One, channel ITV Play, was recently rapped by media regulator Ofcom for making its answers too obscure. | One, channel ITV Play, was recently rapped by media regulator Ofcom for making its answers too obscure. |
| Viewers complained after two answers to the question "what items might be found in a woman's handbag" were revealed to be balaclava and Rawlplugs. | Viewers complained after two answers to the question "what items might be found in a woman's handbag" were revealed to be balaclava and Rawlplugs. |
| 'Lack of transparency' | 'Lack of transparency' |
| The MPs said puzzles on all such programmes should get third-party approval before they are broadcast. | The MPs said puzzles on all such programmes should get third-party approval before they are broadcast. |
| And they recommended that viewers should be given more information about the likelihood of getting through to the studio, and be told the cost of repeat calls. | And they recommended that viewers should be given more information about the likelihood of getting through to the studio, and be told the cost of repeat calls. |
| It is a matter of luck whether a call is connected to the studio Culture, Media and Sport Committee | It is a matter of luck whether a call is connected to the studio Culture, Media and Sport Committee |
| The MPs' report stated: "We believe that call-TV quiz shows generally look and feel like gambling. | The MPs' report stated: "We believe that call-TV quiz shows generally look and feel like gambling. |
| "It seems to us that call-TV quiz shows should constitute gaming under the Gambling Act 2005, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission should consider this as a matter of urgency." | "It seems to us that call-TV quiz shows should constitute gaming under the Gambling Act 2005, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission should consider this as a matter of urgency." |
| If the shows were classed as a lottery, they would be obliged to give 20% of their profits to good causes. | If the shows were classed as a lottery, they would be obliged to give 20% of their profits to good causes. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It seems to be a just a televised version of a fruit-machine Paul Davies, Swindon Send us your comments | |
| The committee complained about "a lack of fairness and transparency", saying players were generally not told that "it is a matter of luck whether a call is connected to the studio and that the chances of getting through are very slim." | The committee complained about "a lack of fairness and transparency", saying players were generally not told that "it is a matter of luck whether a call is connected to the studio and that the chances of getting through are very slim." |
| Committee chairman John Whittingdale said they had heard "some pretty disturbing evidence" of people being encouraged to call more times than they could afford. | Committee chairman John Whittingdale said they had heard "some pretty disturbing evidence" of people being encouraged to call more times than they could afford. |
| The report cited one individual who received a bill for £348 for 15 calls to such channels, and a parent whose son and his babysitter ran up unauthorised bills of £700. | The report cited one individual who received a bill for £348 for 15 calls to such channels, and a parent whose son and his babysitter ran up unauthorised bills of £700. |