CARE Backs Up Labour’s Calls for Stricter Gambling Regulation

Christian charity CARE has publicly backed The UK Labour Party’s recent detailing of their plans for stricter gambling regulations in the UK.

A recent investigation and report, published by Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson, set out the aims and ambitions for Labour when it comes to gambling regulation, if the party is to get into power.

Ton Watson’s report

Various proposals in Watson’s report included a ban on credit card gambling, the prohibition of gambling adverts on television and online during sporting events, and an obligatory levy for operators to help fund research into ways to help, treat, and prevent gambling related harm.

It is gambling advertising that is most focused on, not only in the recent report, but by Watson himself who has long since criticised the scale of gambling advertising in the UK.

With over 90 minutes of televised gambling adverts being shown during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and nine out of the 20 Premier League football clubs, and 17 of 24 in the Championship showing gambling operators as their shirt sponsor, and 60% of league sponsors also being gambling companies, it’s hard to argue.

CARE

Several companies and organisations have come out in support of Watson, most recently, Christian charity CARE, who have stated that football shirt sponsorship’s normalise gambling, and can be used to bypass the ban on advertising gambling products to children.

Speaking of the issues, CARE’s Chief Executive, Nora Leach, said:

“Current gambling legislation is not working for anyone, including children and young people across Britain. Instead it has a led to an epidemic of children problem gamblers.

“The Government needs to accept that inaction is going to make Britain’s problem gambling public health crisis worse and unless change is forthcoming, it’s going to be children who are losing out.”