Children aged 11 lured into gambling

CHILDREN as young as 11 are involved in gambling, the Local Government Association (LGA) warned as it called for curbs on television adverts.

Gambling advertising needs tighter restrictions and the Government needs to consider limiting their “huge rise” to cut the risk of harm to vulnerable young people, the councils said.

Industry figures indicate that almost one in 10 children aged between 11 and 15 are following gambling companies on social media, while the second highest rates of problem gambling are in the 16 to 24-year-old age group. The LGA said it was concerned that the volume of gambling advertising, including “live bet” television adverts during matches, was undermining the Government’s objective of socially responsible growth in the sector.

The LGA is also proposing that maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals be reduced from £100 to £2 in line with other gaming machines allowed on high streets. And it wants cumulative impact tests to enable councils to reject applications for betting shops where there are already clusters when government announces its review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures.

Simon Blackburn, chairman of the LGA’S safer and stronger communities board, said: “While the Gambling Act was intended to position gambling as an acceptable leisure activity, we are concerned that the volume of gambling advertising goes beyond what can be deemed the right balance between socially responsible growth and protecting individuals and communities.”