Evangelical Alliance welcomes initial attempts to tackle problem gambling

Welcoming new proposals recently published by the Gambling Commission

16 March 2006

The Evangelical Alliance welcomed new proposals to regulate problem gambling published recently by the Gambling Commission. However, the Alliance remains concerned that the Government has yet to clarify planning law on casinos and calls on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to introduce promised changes so that sports clubs and cinemas cannot be converted into casinos without planning consent.

Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer at the Evangelical Alliance, said, “We are pleased at the promised introduction of measures we have consistently called for; such as age controls, identity verification, breaks in play and self-exclusion schemes, all of which are intended to reduce the likelihood of people developing a gambling problem.

“However, we have concerns about mixed use leisure facilities where gambling runs cheek by jowl with family friendly activities and the sale of alcohol. I hope the Commission will ensure that customers cannot drift unawares into gambling areas or be encouraged to consume alcohol while playing. It is obvious that increasing the availability of gambling opportunities is likely to cause a rise in people having a gambling problem.”

He concluded, “There remains a strong fear that the Commission’s proposals are too little, too late to address rising levels of problem gambling and debt which are so detrimental to our communities and our economy.”