Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group Fixed Odds Betting Terminals Inquiry to visit Cardiff problem gambling initiative

 

Carolyn Harris MP will visit the Living Room Cardiff on Tuesday 14th February to find out more about the pioneering Beat the Odds initiative. The Flutter-free February campaign, led by Living Room Cardiff, is currently underway and aims to encourage a month-long break from all forms of gambling. Sarah Grant, a problem gambler, who is supporting the campaign, will meet with Carolyn Harris. More information on Flutter-free February 2017 can be found at www.flutterfree.com.

 

The visit to the centre in Cardiff follows an invitation from Carolyn Harris MP for the Living Room Cardiff to become a Supporter of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

 

Gambling problems have emerged as a major issue for mental and public health in Wales, and particularly since 2007, when the 2005 Gambling Act was implemented by the UK Government and provided for major expansions in gambling availability and exposure. The Gambling Commission obtained the first ever estimates of the prevalence of gambling problems for Wales in 2015, and estimated around 1.1% of all adults that are severe problem gamblers, and far larger numbers exhibiting problems across a broader spectrum of severity (for example, there were 13.7% of males aged 25-34 that were exhibiting at least some level of gambling problem). There are also major consequences of gambling for other people (e.g., family members), and the Australian Productivity Commission (1999) has estimated that each problem gambler may negatively impact around 7 others. Incorporating this broader view of the consequences of gambling problems increases the number affected from 34,650 to 242,500 (based on the 2015 population survey of Wales).

 

Research indicates that gambling problems are associated with various serious consequences for individuals, including financial problems and suicidality (UK data indicates around 25% of problem gamblers that report a lifetime history of suicidality, which is a 5-fold increase relative to non-problem gamblers) (Cowlishaw & Kessler, 2016). Gambling problems often co-occur with other psychiatric problems, mainly poor mental health and substance misuse, including alcoholism. A systematic review of international research on gambling co-morbidity indicated around 28% and 17% of problem gamblers that reported a lifetime history of alcohol use disorder and illicit drug use disorders, respectively (Lorains, 2011). There are also major social costs of gambling via impacts on families (e.g., relationship problems, domestic violence) and communities (e.g., through overuse of healthcare services). For example, international studies indicate around 38% of problem gamblers that report perpetration of domestic violence, while around 11% of domestic violence perpetrators that report problem gambling (Dowling et al., 2014). People with gambling problems are shown to be high users of NHS services: they are twice as likely to consult their GP for mental health problems, five times as likely to be hospital inpatients, and eight times as likely to have psychological counselling (Cowlishaw & Kessler, 2015).

 

Wynford Ellis Owen, Chief Executive of Living Room Cardiff said, “Carolyn is very supportive of Living Room Cardiff's Flutter-Free February campaign and during her visit she will meet Sarah Grant and other recoverees who have been talking about their gambling difficulties in order to raise awareness of the problem and help others.

 

“Carolyn, along with Jo Stevenson MP and others will also join LRC's after-work "all addictions" group to meet others who are bravely confronting their difficulties and to witness the Centre's unique approach in action.

 

“I look forward to welcoming Carolyn ad Jo to Cardiff and to look at ways of working together to continue raising awareness of the need to address the scourge of problem gambling which is now emerging as a major public health issue.”

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We can't afford to stay silent any more.

It's time to take action.

Join the movement, treat yourself to a Flutter-Free February.