We must ALL act to protect kids

THERE’S no doubt that today’s figures on children and gambling should make people sit up and listen.

But while discussions about children gambling might conjure up images of kids sneaking into bookies or sitting alone on their iPads gambling on an online casino, our latest research paints a more complex picture.

The most common activities that children gamble on are not licensed casinos, bingo providers or bookies. Instead we found children preferred to gamble in informal environments, out of sight of regulation – private bets between friends or playing cards with their mates for money.

We also found them gambling in places where parents might be expected to be present – scratch cards in supermarkets or fruit machines in pubs. Just in the last week we found that nearly 90 per cent of pubs tested failed to prevent children from gambling on fruit machines. These may not be gambling businesses but nevertheless have a duty to protect young people because we know that no form of gambling is risk free.

Of course, none of this will divert us from our core duty to protect children from the types of gambling offered by companies we regulate. We continue to take action when children are not properly protected by gambling companies and keep raising the standards of protections in place.

Earlier this year we set proposals to strengthen age verification for online gambling sites, including putting free-to-play games behind an age check.

In October we introduced new rules which mean we can directly take action, including imposing fines, against gambling businesses that break advertising rules (such as advertising that appeals to children or glamourises gambling).

But our actions alone won’t stop children being exposed to gambling-style activities in video games or in the app store. They won’t protect the child who has been given access by a parent to their online gambling account. They won’t prevent the playground or the bedroom from becoming a poker den.

Protecting children from harm requires a joined-up approach: a strong, effective regulator, parents and teachers who understand and talk about the risks that can come from gambling, businesses, both in the gambling industry and outside, that act responsibly.

It is by working hand in hand that we can help to keep our kids safe.