22 November 2011
Act now on problem gambling, churches and charities tell parliament
A substantial increase in problem gambling in the last four
years is unacceptable and needs urgent action, a group of national
churches will tell parliament today.
On Tuesday, 22 November, the Salvation Army, Quaker Action on
Alcohol and Drugs, the Methodist Church, the Evangelical Alliance
and CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education) will give
evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into
gambling.
In their contribution to a parliamentary inquiry on gambling,
church groups will tell the select committee that the government
must take action on child gambling, the clustering of betting shops
and funding independent research, education and treatment.
The 2010 prevalence study showed that the number of problem
gamblers in the UK has jumped by 50 per cent to around 450,000
since 2007. Problem gambling is defined as gambling to a degree
that compromises, disrupts or damages family, personal or
recreational pursuits.
One problem gambler who shared his story with the Salvation Army
said: "Three people know of my addiction. My bookie, my bank and
myself. Only one of us is prepared to take responsibility despite
the others being legal and regulated."
James North, public issues policy adviser for the Methodist Church
in Britain, commented: "The figures speak for themselves: problem
gambling is on the rise. But the government seems determined to
liberalise gambling laws. It is vital that the government
understands the challenge posed by this worrying increase in
harmful gambling and takes action to reverse it. We are also deeply
concerned about their plans to cut the funding for the Gambling
Prevalence Survey. This is the only comprehensive study of gambling
in the UK and is essential if we are to prevent and treat problem
gambling."
Britain is the only country in Western Europe to allow children to
gamble. The Gambling Act gives the secretary of state the power to
put an age limit on some or all of the machines that children are
allowed to play and the churches will suggest that now is the time
for this power to be used.
Gareth Wallace, who will be giving evidence from the Salvation
Army, said: "This enquiry into the effects of the 2005 Gambling Act
is long overdue. It is shocking the UK is the only major nation
that allows under-18s to gamble on fruit machines. The government
must commit to coming into line with the rest of the world and stop
children from gambling. No further regulation would be needed for
this move."
The churches are increasingly concerned over the location of
betting shops and the concentration of gaming machines in poorer
areas. Reports by the Responsible Gambling Fund and Harriet Harman
MP, shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, show
that betting shops and their highly addictive B2 machines (aka
Fixed Odds betting Terminals) are increasingly common in our
poorest areas. Local authorities currently only have limited
grounds to reject an application for a new betting premise.
Daniel Webster from the Evangelical Alliance insisted that: "The
government must give local authorities the power to decide what
gambling activities can take place in their communities. Betting
shops can pop up anywhere and there is very little councils can do
about it. If localism is to mean anything, it has to mean that
councils can say no to more betting shops."
The church groups will call on the government to introduce a
compulsory levy on the betting industry to fund research education
and treatment for problem gambling. The 2005 Act gives the
government all the necessary powers, and such a levy would provide
a simple and efficient solution. This is particularly necessary
following the recent breakdown of the funding arrangement between
the fundraiser, the GREaT Foundation, and the distributor, the
Responsible Gambling Fund.
Helena Chambers from Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, said: "The
time has come for a levy on the gambling industry, as the Gambling
Act allows. The level of funding for research, education and the
treatment of problem gambling needs to increase. We are deeply
concerned, because it seems these funds will no longer be
distributed by an independent body, but by the industry itself.
This involves some inevitable conflicts of interest. We need a levy
and robust structures of accountability to ensure that the money is
spent in the public interest. The good work that has been done on
tackling issues like density must not be lost."
Lauri Moyle, representing the Christian social policy charity CARE,
will also be giving evidence highlighting issues relating to online
gambling. He said: "It is high time that the government came out
with some firm commitments and a timetable in response to the
consultation on regulating internet gambling in the UK. The
consultation closed over a year ago and we have only had a holding
reply by the relevant department. People who suffer because of
irresponsible and unregulated gambling websites need help now. The
government needs to act."