Coronavirus pandemic 'a disaster' for gambling addicts
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The coronavirus pandemic has been disastrous for gambling addiction. Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris is getting reports of people returning to gambling after seeing online ads. Many betting shops and gambling sites are removing adverts from TV and radio.
The pandemic has been "absolutely disastrous" for people with gambling addiction. Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris is concerned about the increase in people returning to gambling after seeing online ads. Betting shops and gambling sites are removing adverts from TV and radio. Ms Harris wants to see this extended to social media and direct marketing. BGC announced that all advertising from their members had been removed from broadcast media for at least six weeks. She welcomes the decision but wants all ads to be removed. The MP is also concerned that mortgage holidays to help people financially during the crisis may have unintended consequences.
Katie from Cardiff has relapsed after 500 days without gambling. Nick Phillips, who suffered with a 20-year gambling addiction, has been clean for two years. BGC's members have suspended TV and radio gambling advertising. The body introduced a list of 10 pledges for its members to follow during the pandemic. It included increasing safer gambling messages across all sites and signposting help through organisations like GAMCARE and the National Gambling Helpline. Gambler's Commission warned operators not to exploit the current crisis. The list also included reducing direct marketing via social media, emails or SMS by B GC members.
