Charities ask for more RET funding to treat problem players

Charities including GamCare and GambleAware have called on the government to increase funding for research, education and treatment for problem gamblers.

In response to the Gambling Act Review of 2005, GamCare identified a clear need for increased funding and highlighted the funding gap between treatment for gambling-related harm and other alcohol- and drug-related harm conditions.

The charity cited the £4.5m given by the industry to the treatment of gambling-related harm, compared to the £450m and £350m spent on alcohol and drug addiction treatment.

GamCare has also requested investment to support traditionally underserved communities such as youth, women and the BAME community.

GamCare called on the government to do more to prevent the harms of online gambling and to better manage gambling advertising and sponsorship to keep children, vulnerable individuals and those under treatment out of it.

“We would like operators to invest more in their creative marketing by offering safer gambling tools, messaging and pointers,” GamCare wrote.

"Analysis of 'safer gambling materials' found them to be boring and voluminous compared to other advertisements such as bonus ads, for example," it added.

In addition, the charity has called for a total ban on VIP schemes, as well as the creation of a "strong, expert regulator with adequate resources" to regulate the UK market.

It states: "The Gambling Commission does not appear to have the resources to regulate such a rapidly changing industry and their funding should reflect the size of the sector and the regulatory challenges in such a rapidly changing environment."

This sentiment was echoed by GambleAware, which called for a mandatory industry levy to fund the treatment of at-risk players to appease those organizations currently relying on voluntary funding.

“The voluntary nature of the current arrangements inevitably results in year-to-year funding uncertainty and significant year-to-year fluctuations in cash flow,” writes GambleAware.

"This unpredictable funding model poses a major challenge, given GambleAware's key function as an authorized body," the charity added.