Government criticised for gambling legislation change

On 21st April Parliament agreed to double the amount of money that can be staked and won on the kind of fruit machines found in pubs and amusement arcades. This means that the prize limit on fruit machines will be higher than weekly benefit levels, at a time when many families will be struggling to make ends meet.

In response, an alliance of nine UK Christian organisations has issued the following statement:

“We are deeply disappointed, though not surprised, by the decision of Parliament to accept the Government’s proposals to increase stakes and prizes for category C and D gaming machines. The Government had promised that no such increase would be made until a further gambling prevalence study had been published and has reneged on this promise. We do not know what effects this legislation will have on the levels of problem gambling or on the lives of those already addicted to slot machines, but we have always urged the Government to act with caution.

“We will continue to campaign for the protection of those vulnerable to the harmful effects of gambling and to call on the government to put people before profits. We particularly call on the Government

· to prohibit children from gambling and to research the effects of allowing them to do so. Britain remains the only developed country that allows children to play on fruit machines, and the substantial increase in prizes for children will add another hazard that should be evaluated;

· only to increase future stake and prize values in line with inflation, at no more than 3 yearly intervals;

· and to undertake research into the impact of these changes, with a promise to reverse the decision if this research demonstrates a likely increase in problem gambling.”

The Methodist Church, The Church of England, The Salvation Army, The Church of Scotland, The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The United Reformed Church, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Evangelical Alliance and Care.

Toby Scott, Director of Communications and Campaigns for the Methodist Church added, “Although we are disappointed with this decision, we are extremely grateful for the level of support we have received and to all those who have added their voices to this campaign.”

Source: Methodist News Service 21/04/2009

Churches highlight new evidence on problem gambling

Today the Commons Delegated Legislative Committee will review Government proposals to double the stake and the prize money for pub gambling machines. For the first time ever, this would increase the levels of prize money available to casual gamblers to above the level of weekly benefits.

An alliance of nine UK Christian organisations is calling for the Government to heed evidence published yesterday that further undermines the proposals. Their campaign, Fruitless, calls for the Government to rethink the measures. The groups claim that the Government is in danger of breaking its commitment to establish gambling policy on evidence, and to use regulation to minimise problem gambling.

Two reports published by the Gambling Commission on the eve of this crucial Commons vote offer substantial evidence that problem gambling is more prevalent in areas of social deprivation and amongst those who drink heavily or have poor health. This indicates that the proposals, which increase the potential for people to lose money in pub gaming machines, will hit the most vulnerable hardest.

The proposals have been criticised by faith groups, academics and commentators, as the Government has been unable to produce positive evidence to support the move.

David Bradwell, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the British Methodist Church, said; “In the light of the current economic situation and the growing body of evidence it would be irresponsible to increase the stake and prize money for pub gambling machines. We only have to look at the Australian experience to see the potential a poorly regulated gambling industry has to create social problems.

“At this time of over 2 million unemployed and many families facing a difficult financial future it cannot be right to encourage increased gambling amongst the most vulnerable in our society.”

Notes
For more information about Fruitless, visit www.fruitless.org.uk.
Fruitless is an alliance of 9 UK Christian organisations, including, the Methodist Church, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and The Salvation Army.
For the Gambling Commission’s research concerning alcohol, tobacco and health with regards to gambling, visit: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Client/mediadetail.asp?mediaid=493&id=1.
For the research on socio-economic factors, visit: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/Client/mediadetail.asp?mediaid=494&id=1

Source: Methodist News Service 31/03/09

Methodists call for the gambling industry to support problem gamblers

The Methodist Church has welcomed yesterday’s Gambling Commission report and its recommendations. The report underlines the responsibility of the gambling industry to provide enough money to help the people who are harmed by gambling.

David Bradwell, Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; ‘There are around a quarter of a million problem gamblers in the UK. We need more money to make sure that these people receive sufficient support and advice and that vulnerable people don’t develop a problem with gambling.

‘We support the ‘polluter pays’ principle. If not enough money is raised through the current voluntary system, we want to see the Government introducing compulsory payments by gambling businesses.

‘In Britain we are way behind other countries, including Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in terms of dealing adequately with problem gambling. The Government and the Gambling Commission must look again at the international context and find out what more can be done in the UK to help people who are at risk of being exploited by gambling.’


Source: Methodist News Service 22/10/08

Church Unity on Gambling

As I have already posted, I am glad and proud to be a Methodist when the Methodist Church, with others, has been so influential in cancelling the proposed supercasino for Manchester, which would have caused much misery in that city. It has been good to see the way that the Methodist Church with the Salvation Army have been working to change the laws on gambling, so I am very dismayed to learn that the law will now allow the betting shops to open on Good Friday, even though there will be no horse racing. Very often it is those who can ill afford to lose money who become addicted to gambling, with dire consequencies. You can read more of this in Richard Hall's post (http://theconnexion.net/wp/?p=3476).

This Labour Government has much to answer for and that includes its advocate of all-night opening for pubs which has done nothing to curb binge drinking but has increased drink-related crime between 3am and 6am and the associated neighbourhood diturbances - but that's another story.

None of us wants our Methodist Church and its people to be known as killjoys (which is the opposite of the truth!) and we are very grateful to our leaders who make such difficult decisions ou our behalf.

The Anglican Church is also showing its concern about the detrimental effects that gambling can have and, speaking on their behalf is a good friend of mine Philip Giddings. So I'm repeating what I posted as a comment, in case it was overlooked earlier:-

"POLITICIANS URGED TO ISSUE WARNING TO GAMBLING INDUSTRY

Calls for the gambling industry to do more to help fund treatment for problem gamblers were made by the Church of England this week. As the Government abandoned plans for a supercasino in Manchester, Dr Philip Giddings, chairman of the Church’s Mission and Public Affairs Council, asked politicians to go a step further – by warning the £10-billion-a-year gambling industry that it could be subject to a statutory levy to go towards the care of problem gamblers. Out of 3,800 licensed operators, just 360 have contributed to the Responsibility in Gambling Trust, Dr Giddings said. ‘The Government has eased restrictions on their industry, so the least they could do is to show responsibility in funding research into and treatment of the side-effects.’

Source: Christian Today (28/2) "

Methodist delight at decision to drop the supercasino

I am very relieved to hear that there will be no supercasino built, especially in Manchester, which has enough temptations for the young and those who are easily led. Even without a supercasino, a young man whom I know is still struggling to cope after getting into terrible debt through gambling in that city. As always, the Methodist Church warns people, especially the young, to avoid gambling. This is part of its recent official statement:-

"The Methodist Church welcomes today’s Government announcement that they will not grant a supercasino licence. Proposals for supercasinos, also known as regional casinos, have been strongly opposed by The Methodist Church.

"Alison Jackson, Team Leader for Public Issues in the Methodist Church, said “we are delighted to hear that the Government is not intending to grant a licence for a supercasino. We are pleased that the Government has listened to reason and decided against building a massive gambling complex with unlimited jackpot fruit machines in a deprived area. The Methodist Church calls on the Government to support other ways of regenerating those communities most in need.”

"The Methodist Church will continue to monitor the impact of the 16 new large and small casinos that will now open as planned. The Church will keep pressure on the government and the industry to do all they can to protect players and support people who have a gambling problem."