GOOD TIMING?

21 September 2007

Problem gambling body seeks further funds...just prior to release of UK Gambling Prevalence Study


Wednesday's publication date for the Gambling Prevalence study commissioned by the UK Gambling Commission has focused the spotlight directly on the important issue of problem gambling, and the Responsibility in Gambling Trust is making sure it capitalises on the opportunity.

The raison d'etre of the Trust is to tackle problem gambling in Britain through the funding of treatment, research and education programmes, and it has raised millions to do that.

According to the judicious leaks the mainstream media have exploited over the past two weeks, it is clear that the Gambling Prevalence study is about to deliver some thought-provoking statistics, including indications that gambling has increased overall, and with it the incidence of problem gamblers.

Making the most of the moment, the RIGT is currently calling for GBP 10 million a year from the land and online gambling industry in Great Britain to fund a new national strategy on problem gambling.

“Just treating those who already have a problem is doing too little, too late," avows RIGT Chairman John Greenway MP. "We need to take a more preventative approach and educate people about the risks of gambling.

"We are already spending ten times more on tackling problem gambling than in 2000, and we had previously called for a further doubling of our income by 2010. But we feel that even that is not enough."

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