UK OPPOSITION LEADER TO CALL FOR NEW AGE LIMIT ON GAMBLING?

13 July 2007

Tories want minimum age of 18 years before gambling

The British newspaper The Daily Mail reports that the Leader of the Opposition in the British Parliament, David Cameron is going to call on the Labour government led by Gordon Brown to raise the age limit for all forms of gambling to 18.

The call follows a Conservative Party study by its Commission on Social Justice which found that imposing a minimum limit for gambling of 18 years was the "single most important" measure for combating problem gambling. The report from the Tory commission also argues for a cap on the number and size of land casinos in the UK, and urges that new media gambling like the Internet, interactive and mobile gaming also receive scrutiny.

With children of age allowed to play low-limit slots and 16-year olds allowed to play lotteries and football (soccer) pools, 3.5 percent of children between the ages of 11-15 are problem gamblers said the UK's Daily Mail citing a report from the Conservatives. Britain is the only country in the world that allows children of any age to play slot machines with jackpots of up to £5, while 16-year-olds may buy lottery tickets and scratchcards and play the football pools, the newspaper claims.

The commission, headed by former Tory Party leader Iain Duncan Smith expects Cameron to endorse and action its findings next week.

The report recommends the limit be raised to 18 years of age.

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