EPIDEMIC OF CHILD GAMBLERS

55,000 under-17s have ‘a problem’ Another 70,000 deemed ‘at risk’ Experts blame explosion of TV ads

THE alarming scale of children’s addiction to betting is laid bare today in an official report.

It says the number of problem gamblers aged 11 to 16 has quadrupled in two years to 55,000.

A further 70,000 youngsters are at risk, according to the audit by the Gambling Commission.

It found that a worrying 450,000 children – one in seven of those in the 11- 16 age group – bet regularly. They stake an average of £16 a week each.

The money goes on fruit machines, on bingo, in betting shops or online, which are all illegal for under-18s. The commission’s report also said: Children are being inundated with gambling advertising, with two in three saying they have seen it on TV;

Close to a million youngsters have been exposed to gambling through ‘loot boxes’ in computer games or on smartphone apps;

More children say they have placed bets in the past week than drunk alcohol, smoked or taken drugs.

Lord Chadlington, former chairman of Action on Addiction, demanded an advertising crackdown.

‘We are on the brink of a gambling epidemic in this country,’ the peer said. ‘I am calling for a stop to gambling

advertising on live sporting events on television, and these numbers reinforce the need for urgent action.

‘Italy, which has some 20 per cent fewer problem gamblers than the UK, is banning it. Why is this bombardment of gambling advertising on television continuing in the UK?’

Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former addict who speaks for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: ‘A generation of young people think gambling is part of watching sport. When opportunities to gamble arise they think that’s a normal thing to do.

‘If you get addicted to gambling when you are at school and you don ’t have much life experience before that, it ’s very difficult to recover from it.

‘The fact that problem gambling in children appears to be increasing expo - nentially should send alarm bells.’

The report was based on an Ipsos Mori study of 2,865 11 to 16-year-olds between February and July 2018. They were assessed as either a ‘problem ’ or an ‘at risk’ gambler on the basis of questions about their behaviour.

These included how often they thought about gambling, if they had stolen to fund stakes or if betting had ever led them to lie to their parents.

It found the most common route into gambling were fruit machines in pubs or arcades and cash bets with friends.

Some children admitted using betting SHOCKING TOLL OF GAMBLING ADS ON CHILDREN shops or online gambling sites, both of which are illegal for under-18s.

The study revealed that one in seven boys followed betting brands on social media sites including F acebook and Instagram. It concluded there were 55,000 problem child gamblers – 1.7 per cent of children aged 11 to 16. This was 42,000 more than in 2016.

The 70,000 at risk of addiction repre - sent 2.2 per cent of the age group.

Last week three families, whose sons killed themselves after becoming addicted to gambling , said their children had started aged 17 or under on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals or fruit machines.

Liz Ritchie’s son Jack took his own life aged 24 after gambling with his school dinner money. She s aid: ‘ We n eed tougher enforcement to restrict chil - dren’s access to gambling , a ban on advertising that has normalised gam - bling in children ’s minds and a clear public health warning that includes the high suicide risk of gambling.’

Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, which represents some of the major betting firms, said: ‘There are still far too many children gambling. We’ve all got to do more to push that number down.

‘We would say that the number who are problem gamblers is unacceptable, but a lot of it is outside of our control.

‘On the advertising , the link between children gambling and advertising isn ’t clear-cut but we are mindful that there are genuine concerns.

‘Hopefully the review process we’re in at the moment will resolve that.’

The association, which includes Bet365, Ladbrokes, P addy Power and William Hill, reportedly met yesterday to discuss a complete ban on pre -watershed advertising.

Last week ministers made a U-turn over their decision to delay the implementa - tion of a £2 maximum stake on FOBT s after a campaign by the Daily Mail.

Loot boxes in computer games are used to redeem bonuses such as weapons and costumes – and it is feared the element of chance mirrors gambling.