A Christian advocacy group in the UK urged the country’s Government to initiate urgent reform of the country’s gambling laws, only a week after a recent survey has found that more than 50% of British adults gambled in 2018.
The group, called Christian Action Research & Education (CARE) urged the authorities to be more proactive in protecting local people from gambling-related harm after a new survey found that about 53% of British adults gambled in 2018. The activities they participated in included various forms of gambling, including buying a lottery ticket.
And despite the overall percentage rates have declined in comparison to previous years, CARE believes the rates remain alarmingly high.
The communications manager of CARE, James Mildred, explained that the newly-revealed figures are highly disturbing, so they come as a reminder of how common gambling grew to be on the territory of the UK. Mr James further highlighted that many people believe gambling is nothing more than a bit of harmless fun but in fact, it causes a long-term negative impact on many people, their families and even on entire communities.
The strong negative effect that gambling could have on people is exactly the reason why any Government needed to take quick action to bring certain changes to the country’s gambling laws. According to Mr Mildred, better support for people suffering from gambling addictions.
Latest NHS Survey Finds Over Half of English Adults Gamble Regularly
According to CARE, reduction of high stakes on online games would be a good thing for the UK Government to start with. Apart from that, the group also offers a mandatory levy to be imposed on the gambling industry so that important funding of research, education, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm is raised.
As Casino Guardian reported at the beginning of December, new statistics showing that over 50% of British adult population gamble fuelled some concerns. Anti-gambling campaigners shared their fears that gambling through smartphones and other mobile devices is making it easier for local gamblers to become hooked on gambling. According to the figures presented by the National Health Service (NHS), too many people were being affected by the aggressive advertising practices used by online gambling companies. The NHS has also insisted that the competent authorities, including the Government and the gambling regulators, must take further measures to help problem gamblers.
According to the results of the Health Survey of England, 29% of men between 25 and 34 years of age tend to take part in online gambling activities more often than other age groups. In comparison, only 4% of male English residents over 65 years of age participated took part in online gambling over the previous 12 months. As mentioned above, smartphones have also been blamed for rising gambling addiction rates across the country, with the campaigners claiming that easy accessibility and 24/7 availability of such services make it easier for people to lose money regularly on gambling.
- Author
Daniel Williams
