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B.M.A. REPORT RELEASED
Fruit machines bad for under-18s, and more money needed for problem gambler treatment
The British Medical Association seems to have released a report originally scheduled for January 22, judging by coverage in UK newspapers and on the BBC today. In the report the Association expresses concerns about the treatment of rising numbers of problem gamblers that may be associated with the reform of UK gambling law, and the threat to players who start too young.
Details of the research methodology backing the report are not yet available, but an academic at Nottingham Trent University is understood to be the author...and he has some fears about the advent of licensed remote gaming in Britain, too.
The report recommends a review of slot machine access and whether such access should be restricted to players over the age of 18. The rationale for this is the greater susceptibility to becoming addicted to gambling where players are adolescent. Almost one in five young people currently play fruit machines at least once a week, the report claims.
Research has shown that playing fruit machines is linked to truancy, stealing, getting into trouble with teachers and parents, borrowing cash or using lunch money to play the machines, poor schoolwork and aggressive behaviour, the B.M.A. says.
A BMA spokesman said: "Tough action is required to deal with this and banning under-18s from using slot machines could be a starting point."
The report also makes recommendations for the general gambling industry:
• Treatment for problem gambling should be provided under the National Health Service.
• Gambling operators should pay at least GBP10 million a year to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust for research, prevention and treatment programmes.
• Research is needed into the link between Internet gaming sites and problem gambling.
• Gambling operators should supply information on addiction, treatment and services to customers.
• Adolescent gambling should be taken as seriously as adult problem gambling.
• Slot machines should be reviewed to ensure they are not accessible to adolescents.
Predictably, the politicians have taken note and are scoring points by commenting on the report. Shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire said: "The Government's reforms were supposed to tackle problem gambling and organised crime, yet in the last 24 hours, reports from both the police and doctors warn that the opposite is likely to occur.
"It is particularly concerning that both reports warn that children are likely to be among the victims of gambling addiction.
"It seems astonishing that Tessa Jowell (the British minister responsible for gambling reform) is prepared to ignore these concerns in her desire to make Britain a haven for gambling."
The BMA's head of science and ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: "Problem gambling is associated with a number of health problems and the BMA is concerned that there are insufficient treatment facilities available. Psychological problems can include anxiety, depression, guilt and suicidal thoughts. Relationships can also be affected."
The author of the BMA report, Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, said gambling online, via the internet, mobile phones or interactive television had doubled since 2001 and was a cause for concern. "Online gambling in the UK has doubled since 2001 and further research in this area should be seen as a priority," he says.
Seven in 10 adults gamble each year, helping to sustain a GBP 9 billion industry, and BMA doctors fear that treatment services were patchy with many services not offering gambling support.
But a Department of Health spokeswoman said services were there for gambling addicts.
"Anybody with a gambling problem who seeks help from the NHS will be offered support and, if necessary, treatment to help them overcome their addiction.
"Specialised addiction services have a long history of helping people with gambling problems."
And she added officials were liaising with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and "to ensure that efforts in this area are coordinated".
The Gambling Act is due to come into force in September, paving the the way for new land casinos and the licensing and regulation of Internet gambling companies.
Malcolm Bruce, director of the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, which is overwhelmingly funded by the gambling industry to fund research and services, said: "Over the last three years we have invested GBP 5 million into services and research and are planning to increase that in the future."
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