Dr Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, has blamed the gambling industry for making extremely large profits while British taxpayers are paying the price for dealing with gambling addiction.
The accusations came as he responded to the latest publication of Public Health England (PHE) – a review of evidence for gambling-related harm that has been faced by Brits as a result of their participation in gambling. As Casino Guardian previously reported, the review found that gambling costs local society over £647 million on an annual basis.
According to the Bishop of St Albans, it is unfair for the public to pay the price for the negative consequences of problem gambling at a time when the National Health Service (NHS) is under serious pressure. He further noted that some reforms brought to the sector would help reduce the burden for British taxpayers on one hand, and, on the other hand, stricter changes would allow the authorities to redirect money to fixing some regional health inequalities by offering better research, education and treatment services for problem gambling.
The PHE review found that people living in the northeast and northwest parts of England were more likely to fall victims to problem gambling than people who lived in the south part of the country. The evidence also showed that such people might already be facing greater health inequalities compared to other English residents.
UK Government Should Establish Stricter Rules for the Gambling Sector, Dr Smith Says
Dr Alan Smith believes that stricter measures on the gambling industry will help the authorities level up the conditions for people in the different parts of the country rather than simply spending money to help more deprived areas.
He noted that the Government has already noted the existing regional inequalities in terms of gambling harm, which was exactly the reason why it opened the three Northern Gambling Service clinics in Leeds, Manchester and Sunderland two years ago. Dr Smith, however, said that despite all the efforts made by the clinics, the lack of industry regulation is only making it harder for them to do their job.
As Casino Guardian reported last week, the report issued by Public Health England included the most comprehensive estimate of the economic burden of gambling on local society. At the time it was published, it suggested that gambling’s financial toll was at least £1.27 billion in 2019/2020 in England alone. The report tabled by PHE was the first one ever to offer an estimate of the economic cost of suicide associated with problem gambling – more than £619 million – and provided an updated cost of homelessness related to compulsive gambling – almost £63 million.
The PHE review took into account not only the merely financial issues, such as employment and possible bankruptcy, but also issues associated with people’s health and personal lives.
- Author
Daniel Williams
