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The New Zealand Government has revealed a new strategy aimed at reducing gambling harm through peer-support networks, technology pilots and residential care for gambling addicts. As announced by the Associate Health Minister Jenna Salesa today, the strategy is set to start on July 1st and will cover three years. Also, an NZ$60-million package to help problem gamblers, especially in Pacific and Asian communities, was announced. The funding would come from the levy paid by gambling operators, including local casinos, non-casino gaming machine operators, the New Zealand Lotteries Commission and the…

Today, a new report issued by the UK Gambling Commission has revealed that gambling operators and the ones who lead them would have to improve the customer support they offer to players who are at risk of gambling-related harm and make sure they comply with anti-money laundering rules. The gambling regulator’s “Raising Standards for Consumers Enforcement Report” provides an overview of the enforcement work which the Commission has undertaken over the past year. In addition, the report also provides some pieces of advice for operators. Today we have published our…

Recent data shows that only 20% (one of the five) of the Health and Social Care Trusts on the territory of Northern Ireland has data records related to gambling addicts. The massive failure in policy was revealed after the Christian Action Research and Education charity organisation filed a number of Freedom of Information requests. The responses to the requests have shown that the Southern Health and Social Care Trust was the only one that had records of 72 people who had sought help to deal with their problem gambling over…

A spokesman for the Maltese Responsible Gaming Foundation revealed that more than 1,000 local gamblers have filed applications to be suspended from casinos and other gaming parlours to try to beat their gambling habits. According to the Foundation’s spokesman, the trend for self-exclusion requests has been increasing over the recent years. This could be a good thing, as people who have problems with gambling could be realising the needs for some professional help for them to deal with the addiction. Under the existing gambling legislation in Malta, every gambler who…

The National Health Service (NHS) is set to open the first clinic for treating young problem gamblers aged from 13 to 25. The move comes as part of the nationwide expansion of support for gambling addicts and part of the NHS long-term strategy under which 14 clinics are planned to start operation around England. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has previously explained that providing people who suffer from problem gambling with easy access to professional treatment and support is a matter of paramount importance. In addition, spreading gambling addiction has…

Two months after the Great Britain Gambling Commission (GBGC) announced the launch of the new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, an independent commission has been set to deliver evidence examining the impact of problem gambling on crime. The new Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling will run for three years under former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC. The inquiry into the links between problem gambling and crime comes at a time when the gambling industry is facing increased scrutiny and regulation in the country with the FOBT ruling earlier…

Former England and Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has issued an apology after facing a monetary fine of £8,000 imposed by the Football Association (FA) for violating gambling rules at the time he was a co-owner of Salford City F.C. In an official statement released on June 19th, Scholes shared that he accepted the FA ruling and apologised for his wrongdoings. He further shared that he fully accepted the fine which the Football Association decided to impose on him, saying that he had not had any intention to violate the…

The Labour Party is set to urge the authorities to establish a new gambling ombudsman to provide players with legal protection and to help them deal with financial compensation issues related to gambling. The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson, is expected to give a speech at a Westminster-based event and to explain why a new watchdog dedicated to customer protection should be created. According to Mr Watson, the consumer protection which is currently provided under the existing system headed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is not…

A campaign led by a recovering problem gambler from Manchester is calling for English football clubs to get more engaged with the dangers associated with gambling addiction. The 28-year-old James Grimes has managed to stay away from gambling for almost a year now. The young man is aimed at making local football clubs to review their relationship with gambling companies, as many operators are currently being displayed as the clubs’ sponsors. Mr Grimes is now leading a group of supporters of the Big Step Challenge, which has started its journey…

The Hamilton District Court imposed a four-month community detention sentence to a young woman from Ōtorohanga after her facing charges of failing to take reasonable measures to protect her child while playing on the poker machines in a local pub. The defendant, Kalota Palu, was also sentenced to undertake 100 hours of community work. In addition, she will be supervised by Judge Philip Connell for a period of 12 months. At the time when the Judge announced the sentence, he also praised the 23-year-old woman for voluntarily starting and completing…