CI urges Govt to protect vulnerable from gambling firm exploitation

The Christian Institute has called on the Government to prioritise gambling reform for the sake of those exploited by betting companies.

In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Acting Director Ciarán Kelly highlighted three areas where quick effective action can be taken: gambling advertising, child protection, and online stakes.

The Institute has been campaigning for gambling reform for more than two decades, including opposing the Gambling Act 2005 that created the current crisis.

‘Major social problem’

Mr Kelly explained: “Gambling leaves far too many people locked into a spiral of debt and anxiety, significantly affecting both them and those they love. This is a major social problem.

The time to act is now.

“The odds are stacked against those who try to escape or avoid it. Algorithms on social media force gambling adverts on those likely to respond. There is no escape from the endless incentives and the 24/7 casino in your pocket.”

He urged Nandy to increase legislative restrictions on gambling marketing across all platforms, to hold the industry to account for the continuing exposure of under-18s to gambling, and to impose a strict limit on online stakes.

Welcoming the Government’s manifesto pledge to reform gambling regulation, Mr Kelly also warned: “There is too much of the ‘wild west’ about the UK’s current gambling laws. The time to act is now.”

Growing crisis

According to the National Gambling Helpline, the number of people seeking help for gambling problems rose by over 10,000 last year.

Recently published research by the charity GambleAware found that two-thirds of the British public are unhappy with the level of gambling advertising.

Of the 4,207 adults surveyed, the majority supported stronger regulation of betting advertisements on social media (74 per cent) and television (72 per cent).

In addition, 66 per cent expressed concern at the impact of gambling advertising on children.