Calls for UK Government to Pay More Attention to Gambling Addiction

Gambling addiction is one of the main priorities when it comes to regulators in the online casino industry, with protecting vulnerable gamblers always at the forefront of any rulings and new regulations.

However, in the eyes of many, the UK government is not doing enough to help the 400,000 plus people living in the UK who are thought to be affected by gambling addictions.

Of course, this number does not only include addicts, but also their families, friends, colleagues, and others who can be affected.

Social cost

With gambling addiction numbers rising in the UK, the social cost of problem gambling, which includes things like housing, treatment, and criminal proceedings, is estimated to be over £1 billion every year.

With the problem being as large as it is, it is natural to assume that the government is doing a lot to tackle the problem by providing treatment to as many addicts as possible.

It may, in the case, come as something of a surprise to learn that the National Health Service (NHS) currently has just one single clinic in the UK which is designed primarily to help gambling addicts.

Authorities have faced large amounts of criticism from many directions over what is seen as a lacklustre attempt to provide support.

Missing figures

The Huffington post claim that the government did not even collect information and figures about how many people received counselling or treatment for gambling addiction on the NHS.

GambleAware, a non-government charity organisation dedicated to the support and protection of problem gamblers, only received £8.75 as funding on an annual basis, which is not considered enough when you keep in mind the gambling industry brings in around £14 billion annually.

A big problem that needs a bigger solution, it’s hoped that the government will do more to aid problem gamblers in the near future.