By Ashley Young-
Tougher gambling laws are necessary to protect vulnerable individuals and communities. Problem gambling is known to have a devastating impact on individuals and their families, leading to financial difficulties, mental health problems, and relationship breakdowns.
Self-exclusion systems designed to protect problem gamblers are said to be failing because customers are still able to open accounts after registering, according to campaigners.
Research has shown that people who are more vulnerable to problem gambling, such as those with mental health issues or low-income households, are more likely to be negatively affected by gambling.
Campaigners want to protect children and young people from the harmful effects of gambling. The UK has seen a significant increase in the number of young people gambling in recent years, with some studies suggesting that as many as 55,000 children in the UK are problem gamblers- a worrying trend which can significantly impact a child’s development and future prospects.
They have warned that tougher laws would help to prevent young people from accessing gambling products and protect them from the negative impact of gambling.
The Gambling Commission have on numerous occasions not been shy to dish out fines to betting organisations found wanting in relation to precautionary measures and effective safeguards to protect potential gambling addicts.
However, critics say more needs to be done to keep people safe from the hazards of gambling.
Lenient
The current regulatory framework has been criticized for being too lenient, with some arguing that it allows gambling companies to exploit vulnerable individuals and encourage excessive gambling. Tougher laws would help to limit the power of gambling companies and make it more difficult for them to profit from problem gamblers.
The need for a more responsible and sustainable gambling industry in the UK which operates in a socially responsible manner.
The warning comes after Sky News revealed how a gambling addict managed to send £23,000 in a matter of 20 minutes without checks.
Researcher Joshua Loophood told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Tougher laws would help to encourage gambling companies to adopt more responsible gambling practices and ensure that they are held accountable for any harm caused by their activities.. The government must take decisive action to limit the power of the gambling industry and ensure that it operates in a responsible and sustainable manner”.
Campaigners have warned that industry efforts to self-regulate are insufficient and want independent oversight of the exclusion schemes, as the government prepares a major overhaul of the country’s betting laws.
In 2020, the Gambling Commission made participation in the scheme a licence condition for online operators in the UK.
Brian Chappell, founder of the consumer group Justice for Punters, had little success or engagement when he took Luis’ case to the Gambling Commission.
He said: “Huge improvements in all of their processes are needed to protect people from gambling harm and prevent this from happening again
“So much needs to be learned from this case, because the current system is failing people like Luis every day and that’s just not acceptable.”
The government is in the process of publishing its long-awaited gambling white paper which will outline tougher rules for the industry.