Gambling problems on the rise

Catching up with yesterday's Racing Post I read that problem gambling is on the rise:

THE number of people seeking help for gambling problems in Britain has soared according to the charity GamCare, which reports a huge increase in the volume of calls to its telephone advice lines.

An annual review of GamCare's activity and effectiveness as an advice, support and counselling service, shows that enquiries to its helpline and NetLine were up 21 per cent in 2008 and the number of counselling sessions up by 30 per cent over the same year. The number of calls answered was up 300 per cent.

GamCare said its advisers were now dealing with around 100 callers every day and that more than 300 people are in treatment around the country, receiving individual counselling.

GamCare is actually funded by the gambling industry and boasts it "takes a non-judgemental approach to gambling. We do not wish to restrict the choices or opportunities for anyone to operate or engage in gambling opportunities that are available legally and operated responsibly".

I have tried their so called "helpline" and was diverted to a mobile in someone's pocket - hardly designed to inspire confidence that my call for help would be handled in a private, confidential or professional manner.

No, sadly just like the hopeless Gambling Commission and its ever pliable members, one of whom is a house trained Methodist luminary, GamCare is all about protecting the gambling "industry".

The simplest way of reducing the level of problem gambling is to reduce the number of opportunities to gamble.

In you don't believe that there are many people who have a real problem with gambling just pop into your local betting shop or amusement arcade and see the people, many of them under age, sitting there for hours on end hoping for better "luck".