A Call for Stricter Regulation of the Industry

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: December 26, 2022

A letter to Rishi Sunak claimed that never were parents or children educated or warned about the dangers of gambling and how people can become easily addicted to it. Kay Wadsworth, whose daughter took her own life at the age of 32 after accruing lots of debts, stated that “Gambling kills” should appear at the bottom of every betting advertisement.

Six mothers sent a letter to Rishi Sunak, demanding for stricter regulation of the industry, including Mrs. Wadsworth. It comes as the government completes work on its eagerly anticipated gambling white paper, which is scheduled to be released in a few days or weeks.

Whitepaper to Be Published Before Christmas or Shortly After

In the letter to the PM, the mothers asked the question, “Do you know that people with gambling disorders have a 15 times higher risk of suicide than the general public?” In response to this, a spokesperson for the Gaming and Betting Council stated that any suicide is a tragedy and that they are not in a position to comment on any tragic individual case.

He continued by saying that the causes of any suicide are complex and that it may have several different causes. The Gambling Commission’s most recent figures, which show that the number of problem gamblers in the UK’s adult population has reduced from 0.4% to 0.3%, is encouraging.

Since the government stated that it would reform the gambling laws in 2019, there have been ongoing delays, in part because of the government turmoil. Five different ministers have held the gambling brief since the start of the review. However, it appears that the white paper will soon be released, either before Christmas or shortly after.

Whitepaper May Feature New Industry Restrictions

Gambling With Lives campaigners, who presented the letter, want a statutory level to be included in the bill. This levy will be used to raise money from the industry for payment for addiction treatment, independent information, and education. A voluntary system is already in place, and the industry believes it is effective. However, Gambling With Lives co-founder Liz Ritchie said it’s not big enough. Why does the charity commission oversee treatment for health conditions that pose a serious risk to life? She asked.

In March of this year, at an investigation into the suicide of Jack Ritchie, who developed an addiction, the coroner condemned “woefully insufficient” information and treatment for the twenty-four years old. The industry mentions that it provides £110 million to GambleAware annually. “GambleAware is responsible for independently distributing research, education, and treatment funds to services and charities,” the Betting and Gaming Council stated. However, the NHS has already cut ties with GambleAware for what it claims are “close ties to the gambling industry”.

The delayed white paper may feature several new industry restrictions, including restrictions on advertising and sponsorship betting caps for online gaming. Strict affordability checks that require punters to present bank statements at a particular threshold may also be in place. Both campaigners and the industry are aware that change is imminent in order to protect those people who are vulnerable to gambling addiction.