Christians want Support for Problem Gamblers

A number of Christian bodies have welcomed the Gambling Commission's prevalence study, which revealed that the number of problem gamblers in the UK has not increased since 1999. They voiced concern, however, that the numbers were still too high.

The Church of Scotland said it was "still concerned" that so many people were affected.

"A quarter of a million problem gamblers is not an increase on the last study but it is still a lot of people," said a Church spokesman.

The Methodist Church also welcomed the Gambling Commission's study, but said that a quarter million gamblers were still "too many".

Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and Social Justice, said: "While we are relieved that the number of problem gamblers has not risen, there are still far too many.

"The Government have always said that the Act provides greater safeguards for people who are vulnerable to problem gambling; it is now for them and the Gambling Commission to implement the Act so as to ensure that these predictions come true."

A report to the Church of Scotland's General Assembly this year served to "expose the myth" that gambling was a route out of poverty and "highlight the detrimental effect on society caused by the increasing growth of the gambling culture".

It voiced concern in particular over more recently developed forms of gambling, including internet and interactive gambling, as well as spread-betting, a form of tax free stocks and shares betting which does not require a stockbroker.

The Church spokesman added: "We note that the prevalence study shows that these new forms of gambling lead to a disproportionately high number of problem gamblers.

"We hope that steps will be taken both to help those troubled in this way and to ensure that others are not drawn into this particular form of gambling."

It also appealed to the Government to put into place the proper support for problem gamblers.

The Church spokesman added: "The Church of Scotland remains concerned about the protection of the vulnerable and hopes that care will be taken to ensure that the number of problem gamblers does not increase in the future.

"These figures show that it is vital that support and education are made available both to those afflicted by problem gambling and to ensure that their numbers do not increase."

Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said: "Now is the time to prove whether or not the new Gambling Act will indeed increase problem gambling. The importance of this comprehensive survey must not be allowed to be undermined by the gambling industry and must act as a baseline from which the Government's Gambling Act will be held to account."

Wallace continued: "This is no time for complacency. Problem gamblers are not mere statistics. Both the Gambling Commission and the Dept for Culture Media and Sport have said that these figures are nothing to be proud of. With no reduction in problem gambling since the GamCare report in 1999, the Government need to urgently provide more resources to assist those whose lives are being blighted by problem gambling."

The Methodist Church said it hoped to see a drop in the number of problem gamblers by the time of the next study in 2009-10, while the Church of Scotland recommended that the Government use the next study as an opportunity to carry out a full review of gambling practice at that time.