Scotland must tackle gambling industry ‘immediately’

Scotland must act now, “before it is too late” to help those affected by gambling, academics have warned.

Writing in The Herald, Dr Heather Wardle and Professor Gerda Reith, co-directors of Gambling Research Glasgow, called on Scottish local authorities to use their powers to address the growing betting industry by regulating firms and advertisements.

The UK Government’s long-delayed White Paper reforming the Gambling Act 2005 is expected early this year, but the academics said this “doesn’t mean we should just sit and await our cue from Westminster”.

‘Crises’

Dr Wardle and Professor Reith highlighted “excellent examples of local action being taken in other places” such as Bristol City Council, which banned all betting advertising on council sites including bus shelters.

They suggested that Scottish local authorities could also use licensing powers to inspect firms to ensure they are not breaching regulations and curb 24-hour opening hours.

“Scotland has the opportunity to display leadership in this area and fight for the health of its people”, the academics commented.

“The gambling industry in its current form is putting already vulnerable people at further risk of harm, and reinforcing existing inequalities, against the backdrop of one of the worst social crises of modern times.”

Youth

Last year, it was revealed that the number of gamblers seeking help for their addiction had risen dramatically since the start of the pandemic.

GamStop, which enables gamblers to exclude themselves from online betting companies, reported a 23 per cent increase in people seeking help across the UK.

Experts reported concern about gambling in Scotland, and young Scots in particular, with a survey by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland indicating nearly a quarter of young people between 11 and 26 years old had gambled in the last twelve months.