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Gambling Commission teams up with the NHS and others to target gambling harm in Wales

28 January 2019

The Gambling Commission joined forces with range of organisations in Cardiff today as part of a drive to reduce gambling-related harm across Wales.

The latest Commission figures show that around 20,000 people in Wales are problem gamblers and approximately 84,000 are at risk of developing a problem.1

And today 30 representatives from organisations including NHS Wales, local authorities, treatment providers and sports bodies discussed ways of reducing those numbers. Topics addressed included prevention and treatment services, public health messaging, gambling venues and research.

The round table event was chaired by Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton and Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur.

Mr McArthur said: “Gambling related harm is a complex and wide-ranging problem and consequently requires a joined-up approach from a number of different organisations. It’s encouraging to see so many different groups coming together today to help coordinate approaches to tackling harm.

“In our role as regulator we’ll continue to enforce standards we expect from gambling businesses – which includes stepping in when they spot gambling related harm – and we’ll continue to look for ways to make gambling safer but we can’t do this alone.”

1 Participation in gambling and rates of problem gambling in Wales, 2016

Today’s Roundtable discussion on reducing gambling related harm in Wales was attended by representatives from:

  • Welsh Government
  • Gambling Commission
  • GambleAware
  • Citizens Advice
  • Welsh Local Government Association
  • Church in Wales
  • Public Health Wales
  • South Wales Police
  • Bangor University
  • Wales Lottery Forum
  • Welsh Sports Association
  • Sports Wales
  • Money Advice Service
  • Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) Wales
  • All Wales Licensing Expert Panel
  • Beacon Counselling Trust
  • Swansea University.

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Last updated: 16 February 2021

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