GamCare Comments for the
Scrutiny Committee
Introduction - GamCare Approach
- Rather than
take each part of the bill line by line GamCare would like to
comment on its overall intentions and focus on a few areas bearing
in mind GamCare's particular interests of minimising harm and
helping the public deal with any gambling problems.
1. GamCare Overall Position
- Will continue
to take a non judgemental stance on gambling.
- As long as
there is sufficient provision for public support/treatment, effective
public education measures and the industry provides gambling services
in a socially responsible manner, GamCare supports the broad intentions
of this Bill.
2. The New Environment
- The prospect
of greater opportunities for the public to enjoy gambling is already
materialising and, with the advent of the Bill, will continue
to grow. Even if the level of problem gambling amongst regular
gamblers remains the same in percentage terms, the future enlarged
market will mean there will be more problem gamblers in absolute
terms.
3. Public Support/Treatment - Reactive
Measures
- GamCare runs
a national Help Line that can deal with both straight forward
enquiries and has trained counsellors in gambling issues who can
deal with those in more desperate need of help.
- UK wide resources
are required trained to a national standard by GamCare that will
allow the public to seek out local face 2 face counselling help
for gambling problems. GamCare has started this process with some
success.
- The suggestion
from the Bill is these services are essential but there is no
specific reference. Clearly these services should be developed.
4. Public Education - Proactive Measures
- Education
programmes should be planned in the form of special training videos,
presentations and general materials specially for the young via
schools, universities, youth groups etc but also for older generations
who may be exposed to gambling opportunities for the first time.
- GamCare will
have some of these available and they will require ongoing development
as the leisure industry unfolds and technological changes occur.
5. Demonstrable Social Responsibility
by Industry - Proactive Measures
- Codes of Social
Responsibility not just issued as pieces of paper but also lived
out by industry. This approach should be part of regular staff
training and induction programmes. GamCare would work closely
with the Commission to make this work. The Bill should perhaps
make reference to Demonstrable Social Responsibility.
6. Public Awareness of where to seek
Help
- There are
bound to be increased levels of expenditure on promoting gambling
in the new environment. There should therefore be a proportionate
amount of expenditure allocated to those organisations like GamCare
who can provide support for those in need.
- Whilst Advertising
is planned to be covered at the next stage of the Bill, it might
make sense to mention the need to build public awareness of support
at this stage.
7. Funds and Resources
- The Budd Report
suggested the industry should aim to accumulate £3 million
towards treatment, education and research. This was set as an
annual first step target and therefore in future, in the more
open leisure industry environment, the annual figure should be
reviewed particularly as there will be a need to spend money on
creating public awareness of help services like those of GamCare
for the first time.
8. Gaming Machine Proliferation
- When restrictions
were lifted in Australia, there was a proliferation of gaming
machines. There is now also a higher level per capita of problem
gamblers in Australia than there is in UK with many Australian
gamblers affected by gaming machines.
- Consequently,
care should be taken the Bill does not allow bigger prize machines
in particular to be too freely available and accessible. Suggested
figures and ratios have been reduced since the Budd Report but
care will still have to be taken so there is not a sudden surge
in their availability.
9. Young People
- By the time
the Bill is published there will be every likelihood that Remote
gambling will have developed more extensively from internet to
interactive television and wireless mobile phones. Young people
in particular will therefore be subjected to many more direct
messages offering gambling opportunities.
- The tightest
possible age verification checks must be installed to avoid underage
young people gambling specially via Remote opportunities. Young
people who have still to reach the legal gambling age can easily
obtain some cards like Solo, Delta & Switch.
Peter Cox
GamCare 5th
December 2003
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