APG holds second session of its inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harms

On Monday (27 February) the Northern Ireland All Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling met for the second oral evidence session of its inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harms. The group heard evidence from Alexander Källman and Clare Wyllie from Tackling Gambling Stigma and Martin Jones, former Gambling with Lives trustee.

Mr Källman and Ms Wyllie emphasised that harm happens across all levels of spend, even low level flutters can cause harm. Mr Källman expanded that the stigma around gambling harm is still a massive problem when it comes to treating gambling addiction. He called on the government to publically state that gambling is addictive and dangerous, just like it does with other addictions. Ms Wyllie echoed this and stated that there should be no blame placed on vulnerable people for developing a gambling addiction but on the predatory products pushed by the gambling industry.

Martin Jones told the group that any potential gambling regulator in NI should have a duty to prevent harm and to place a duty of care on gambling operators. 

The next oral evidence session is scheduled for Monday 13 March and will take place virtually.

To watch Monday's session in full, click here.