Gambling harm ‘should be treated as a public health issue like drink’

GAMBLING addiction is an urgent public health issue that must be taken as seriously as alcoholism and smoking, says a hard-hitting academic report.

Time spent at home and increased feelings of isolation because of coronavirus have fuelled an epidemic of people becoming hooked on online betting, researchers found.

At the same time, support services for addicts have struggled to move online, leaving many unable to access professional help.

Intervention is needed at national and local levels to limit the damage, the report concluded.

The Daily mail has called for action against unscrupulous betting firms through its Stop the Gambling Predators campaign.

Dr Lindsay Blank, from Sheffield University’s school of health and related research, which compiled the report, said: ‘People often understand addictions to substances and can be much more accepting of how those problems need to be addressed...

‘If we can change how gambling is perceived and start to view gambling-related harm as a public health issue then we can do more to both prevent harmful gambling and help those who are already in need of support.’

The report, published in Lancet Public Health, reviewed existing evidence for what works to reduce the harm to individuals and communities as a result of gambling.

The team, funded by the National Institute for Health Research, found the regulatory, education and treatment services that successfully reduced the harm caused by smoking and drinking ‘have not been systematically developed and evaluated for gambling’.

Earlier this year a House of Lords’ report urged ministers to impose a levy on gambling operators to fund NHS addiction treatment. Its review found 300,000 people, including 55,000 children, were hooked on gambling.

The latest Gambling Commission data shows online gambling saw a month- on-month increase of 29 per cent in firms’ gross earnings. Among those who increased their betting, 45 per cent blamed having more time on their hands.

This month Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced a shakeup of gambling laws was needed to combat addiction. A review could limit online stakes and introduce tough checks on whether players can afford losses. Bookmakers may also be banned from offering inducements to big losers.

Flutter, which owns Paddy Power, Betfair and SkyBet websites, revealed last month its punters lost £15million a day between July and September – nearly a third higher than before the pandemic – while its global revenue was more than £1.3billion. James Grimes, of campaign group The Big Step, said: ‘It’s no surprise that this report implies there should be a public health approach to prevent any further suffering to families up and down the country. It’s now time to regulate appropriately with restrictions on advertising, implementation of affordability checks and ensuring products are safer.’

The Betting and Gaming Council said there was ‘no evidence problem gambling has increased during the pandemic’, adding: ‘[Our] members have increased funding for research, education and treatment and regularly intervene where customers are at risk.’

WHILE the Mail prefers an onus on individual responsibility, it is indisputable some habits are so damaging the case for state intervention becomes unstoppable.

Tobacco and alcohol are prime examples. Swingeing taxes, advertising bans and better education have slashed smoking and heavy drinking in Britain, saving lives.

In years to come, we’ll surely look back in amazement that gambling wasn’t on the list. Too many – and increasingly the young – are lured into the vice- like grip of addiction by rapacious bookmakers.

Today, experts call for betting to be treated as a dire public health emergency.

Despite pocketing £3billion in gambling revenues, the Government has vowed to tackle this scourge. It must do so urgently. Lives are being destroyed. TO repay a colossal debt of gratitude, ministers will help hundreds of Afghan civilians who bravely worked for the UK to escape the clutches of vengeful Taliban death squads. New rules will make it easier for these threatened men and their families to be granted sanctuary on our shores. That’s welcome. But too often promises have been broken. This time, fine words must translate into action.