SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
GambleAware has published its new five-year strategy, expressing an aim to treble the number of people who receive treatment each year for gambling-related harm.
Formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, GambleAware has reinforced its commitment to helping those suffering from gambling-related harm, of which there are believed to be around 250,000 in the UK, by funding research, education and treatment services.
The charity has called upon all those who profit from gambling, including licence-holders, advertisers and lotteries, to contribute towards an increase in funding from £7 million up to £10 million a year. GambleAware has also revealed plans to increase its research budget by 50% to an annual £1.5 million by 2018.
In the context of the Government’s review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures, the need for research that provides evidence-based insight and actionable recommendations has never been more acute. The strategy outlines how the charity will provide sufficient help and support to more than three times the 3% of these people that are currently reached.
Kate Lampard CBE, the newly appointed Chair of GambleAware, said: “Our number one priority is protecting the vulnerable. The most important thing to us is to be able to provide treatment, preventative education and research to minimise the harm caused by gambling.
“Our new strategy makes it clear that we hope to work with the gambling industry, but we are prepared, when necessary, to challenge the industry in pursuit of our objectives.”
