Politicians in Northern Ireland are seeking guidance from their Westminster colleagues as they launch an inquiry that could finally lead to the establishment of new gambling laws in the province.

The recently formed All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling at Stormont will take guidance from the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliamentary Group at Westminster as they progress with the inquiry. Evidence sessions are expected to begin in September this year.

A statement from the Stormont group said proposals would be used to “toughen up” Northern Ireland’s archaic gambling laws, which date back to 1985. The group hailed the work of their Westminster peers who last week concluded a year-long inquiry with calls for a total ban on gambling advertising and restriction of online slot stakes to just £2.

“From our perspective the timing could not be better,” the Stormont APG’s chair Robbie Butler MLA said. “We’ve been in touch to exchange notes and we’ll be asking the Westminster chair Carolyn Harris MP to give evidence to our inquiry when it begins in the autumn.

“This is not about banning gambling; it is about protecting the vulnerable and making our laws fit for purpose. Our members are from across the political divide and there is a very strong sense of common purpose between us. Working with our peers at Westminster will bring obvious benefits to the inquiry.”