A coalition of Christian churches and organisations has urged the government to take ‘immediate’ action to prevent gambling-related harm, saying ‘society cannot afford to delay’.
The warning comes in submissions made in response to a review and consultation on the Gambling Act 2005. The coalition called for specific measures including a ban on – or a dramatic reduction in – gambling advertising and a compulsory levy on the industry to fund treatment, research and public awareness campaigns.
The group, which includes the Evangelical Alliance and CARE, also warned of the risks of online gambling for children and young people and said gambling should be treated as a public-health issue.
In its response to the consultation, the coalition stated: ‘The extent of internet gambling or advertising was barely imagined when the 2005 Act was passed.
‘Government needs to use this opportunity to require the gambling industry to implement measures, such as caps on expenditure or losses with the aim of reducing risks of gamblingrelated harm.’
