The leading UK charity organisation GambleAware has called gambling operators in the industry to financially help support services aimed at players who suffer from problem gambling behaviour.
GambleAware, which was formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust is a organisation oriented towards minimising the harms inflicted on customers by gambling activities. The charity revealed that according to the data gathered over a recent research, only 3% of the non-profit organisations are actually getting help.
This is exactly why, according to GambleAware, all companies and organisations that profit from gambling activities, such as advertisers, professional sports clubs and lotteries should do their best in order to contribute to charitable establishments. In addition, GambleAware called for the entire industry to contribute to research of the problem gambling behaviour, as well as to education on the matter and treatment services.
The Chairwoman of the charity organisation Kate Lampard commented on the issues, saying that the top priority of GambleAware was to make sure it protects players who are most vulnerable. She also said that the most important thing to everyone who worked at the charity was to really be able to offer such players treatment and education to prevent such harmful effects, as well as to make sure they did everything in order to minimise the eventual harms inflicted by gambling activities.
Ms. Lampard explained that the new strategy of the organisation is concentrated on working in collaboration with the gambling industry as a whole, but GambleAware was also ready to challenge the industry to take the necessary measures, if needed.
Problem gambling has become one of the hottest issues in the UK over the last few years. In fact, both the country’s Government and some regulatory authorities have expressed their concerns on the matter, which has become quite serious in some parts of the country. The survey cited by GambleAware showed that the total number of British punters who have experienced problem gambling behaviour amounts to around 250,000. However, the charity organisation also revealed the results of the research show that only 3% of the problem gamblers are actually reached by some help by the national network of organisations that offer help and treatment.
The financial resources raised by GambleAware in 2015 amounted to a total of £7.6 million. The charity organisation also revealed that over the period it was granted with donations from more than 80% of the gambling companies that operate under a UK license. What is more, the organisation stated that around £11 million could be accumulated if the industry contributed with a 0.1% of gross gambling yield and engaged itself with working to encourage other sectors to provide it with financial support.
- Author
Daniel Williams
