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The number of under-aged individuals categorised as problem gamblers in the UK has seen a massive increase in the past year, with the trend being described as a “generational scandal”. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) issued a report, according to which, about 55,000 children aged between 11 and 16 can be categorised as problem gamblers. In comparison, their number amounted to 25,000 last year. The major gambling industry regulatory body also found an even more troubling trend, as a further 70,000 children are at risk of getting addicted to gambling…

Australian people are still generating the largest losses on gambling on a global scale, according to recent data. According to estimates provided by H2 Gambling Capital, a global gambling analyst firm based in the UK, revealed that Australian adults’ gambling losses amounted to $958 (AU$1,324) in 2017 alone. The losses generated by Hong Kong citizens were the second-highest but still a lot smaller in comparison to the ones of Australians, as they amount to $768. Singapore adults’ gambling losses amount to $725 in 2017 and rank third. New Zealanders, on…

Northland counsellors are seeing an increase in the number of people who gamble online and get affected by the negative impact of gambling addiction. According to specialists, the rise is concerning especially for people who are categorised as problem gamblers, as such players are more likely to spend large sums of money while gambling online. According to data revealed by Nga Manga Puriri Northland Problem Gambling Services, there have already been too many people engaged with problem gambling. The organisation which provides confidential and free counselling from people suffering from…

Prime Minister Theresa May has been forced to reconsider and withdraw her position over the expected crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), after a large number of ministerial aides threatened they will follow Tracey Crouch and will resign if the Government does not proceed with the reform’s initially-announced deadline. The change was revealed in a written statement to Members of Parliament by the Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, who also announced that an increase in remote gaming duty will also be made so that the change is affordable. The statutory instrument…

The objections to the UK Government’s decision are getting more serious by the hour. Now, it became clear that Theresa May could lose twelve more ministerial aides after they have warned the Prime Minister they will resign in case she does not reconsider the delayed crackdown on notorious fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). The controversy between anti-gambling campaigners and the proponents of the machines grew stronger after the Government announced its decision to put off the implementation of the new maximum stake of FOBTs until October 2019, and especially after Tracey…

The Deputy Leader on the Labour Party and shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson dropped a bomb on Twitter and revealed that Jeremy Wright had a meeting with two Tory Members of Parliament who have been lobbying on behalf of the UK gambling industry about three weeks before the Government’s decision for the FOBT stake reduction delay was officially revealed. According to information published on November 12th on Mr. Watson’s personal Twitter account, Mr. Wright who currently serves as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with two…

The professional football player Daniel Sturridge has been accused of misconduct by the Football Association (FA) after facing allegations of breaches of the governing body of English football. Reportedly, the charge is related to the loan move of Sturridge from Liverpool to West Bromwich Albion earlier in 2018, with “the period of January 2018” being specifically mentioned in the statement of the FA. The case against Sturridge is expected to be built on whether internal information was knowingly passed on at a time when Southampton, Newcastle United and West Bromwich…

An information that the UK Government’s decision to delay the reduction of the maximum betting stakes allowed at fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) until October 2019 was based on a “discredited” secret report issued by local gambling operator has emerged. As Casino Guardian reported, last week Chancellor Philip Hammond revealed that the implementation of the gambling industry crackdown was put off in order for the Treasury to compensate for the revenue expected to be lost as a result of the cuts. The delay fuelled a massive outrage among anti-gambling campaigners and…

Neil McArthur, head of the major gambling regulator in the UK has warned gambling operators’ executives that their companies advertising campaigns are being dangerous to young people who could become problem gamblers. The Conference gathered about 170 executives representing over 100 bookmakers, to which Mr. McArthur explained that competent regulators and authorities have been facing what he called a “significant challenge” to deal with the negative consequences which occurred as a result of gambling addiction among young people. He further urged them to be more responsible to customers’ safety and…

GamCare Isle of Man has helped local problem gamblers with offering approximately 3,000 appointments since 2011. The deputy director of the leading provider of free professional advice and counselling for treatment and prevention of problem gambling, Lyndsey Smart, shared that about 90% of the people who reach GamCare are self-referrals who are looking for some help in order to deal with a gambling addiction they are facing. According to Ms. Smart, gambling addiction was often not so obvious, so families of compulsive gamblers were usually not aware of the problem…