Self-ban scheme for problem gamblers set to be expanded

A PILOT scheme allowing people with a gambling problem to exclude themselves from high street betting shops is to be expanded across Scotland’s biggest city.

Launched in July, the initiative allows people to call a confidential helpline to request to be refused service at any of 36 participating betting shops in Glasgow city centre.

The scheme is now being expanded to include 300 outlets across the wider Glasgow area – effectively, any location with a Glasgow postcode – the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) revealed.

ABB chief executive Malcolm George said: ‘The expansion of the scheme to include 300 shops and independent operators shows our members’ commitment to people who may have a problem with their gambling and makes it easier for them to self-exclude.’

Under the project, any punter who feels they are getting into difficulty with gambling can exclude themselves from participating shops by contacting a central team of advisers. The team will then tailor their self-exclusion based on the locations they visit most often.

The pilot scheme is being carried out with a view to developing a cross-operator project that will be rolled out to all 9,000 bookmakers in the UK in the spring.

The confidential helpline number is 0300 1234 098.