Regulator calls for gambling addiction to be treated as public health issue

Thursday 01 October 2020

Jersey’s gambling regulator has called on the Government to do more to help gambling addicts.

In its recently published annual report for 2019, the Jersey Gambling Commission says that Government’s inability to treat gambling addiction as a public health issue is a “recurring problem."

There is no clear data to indicate how many islanders are addicted to gambling, either physically in a bookmakers or pub, or online.

The Commission say that although the number is likely to be low, its approach is that even one is too high.

Last year, the number of 'self-exclusions' - where people recognise that they have a problem and volunteer to be excluded from bookmakers rose from 156 in 2018 to 205 – a 31% increase.

However, self-exclusions are linked to individual premises so one person asking to be banned from every bookmaker in the Island would have multiple self-exclusions.

Pictured: The number of self-exclusions increased.

JGC chairman Cyril Whelan, said: “The Commission will always prioritise this area of its remit [problem gambling], but is bound to recognise that a gambling regulator does not have either the specialist knowledge or the resources to address what is increasingly being recognised world-wide as part of a public health issue. 

“Partnership with public health agencies is therefore indispensable. The Commission has not found it easy to develop such partnerships to an acceptable level. This has been a recurring problem over a course of years now. 

“While one recognises the huge demands under which the relevant health bodies have to function, more consistent engagement is vital if problem gambling is to be addressed as effectively as it should be.

“For this reason, the Commission remains committed to assisting government in providing information and support for what is a much greater mental health question. As I noted in last year’s report, many of the people who are affected by excessive gambling are also prone to other forms of compulsive behaviour and consequently, problem gambling needs to be recognised within a wider health improvement strategy.”

Pictured: JGC Chairman Cyril Whelan.

Chief Executive Dr Jason Lane added that the Commission had a relationship with the not-for-profit organisation Gambling Therapy, which offers online advice and information on how best to address problem gambling. 

He said that the Commission had also raised awareness by undertaking an ongoing media campaign, with both initiatives paid for from the Social Responsibility Fund, an account ring-fenced to tackle gambling addiction which is funded by the local bookmakers and others in the industry. 

“It is clear, however, that gamblers in recovery would benefit from bespoke services provided face to face on island.

"While the online service offered by Gambling Therapy does offer an alternative to government health services, the Commission will endeavour to develop relationships with specialist charities so that greater choice and support can be made available on island in the future.

“Alone, however, there is only so much a regulator can do. This will not be a simple thing to deliver and will require support and advice from government, health professionals and the third sector, but it is something that the Commission is committed to trying to deliver over the coming years.”

Pictured: JGC Chief Executive Dr Jason Lane.

Dr Lane added that the Government had indicated its willingness to engage earlier this year, but its attention had been diverted by the pandemic and other priorities.

Addressing the impact of covid on Jersey’s 23 bookies, Dr Lane said: “There will clearly be economic damage across the industry because of the retail closures ordered by government in response to covid-19 and this may translate into further shop closures and staff losses. 

“There have already been small reductions in 2019, with the closure of one shop and a reduction across the estate of five gaming machines [down from 91 to 86]. For an industry that has been under sustained pressure for many years, the outlook remains challenging.”

Despite its concerns about problem gambling, and also wary that it is not allowed to promote the industry, the regulator believes that the Island should do more to attract online gambling companies to Jersey.

Pictured: One of the five Jersey-regulated remote gambling operators is BetIndex Ltd, which runs footballindex.co.uk

Mr Whelan said: “Apart from the real enjoyment that it brings to many, the location in the island of businesses engaged in the numerous functions associated with regulated international gambling creates income, jobs, training opportunities and diversity. 

“It is reasonable to suppose that expansion within this sector would be welcomed in a narrowly based economy such as our own in which diversification has been repeatedly advised.

“There is no doubt that other companies that conform with the Island’s risk profile and high regulatory standards would benefit from having a presence in the Island and this could certainly be facilitated by greater co-operation between private industry, government and public-private agencies along the model that has proven so successful in the financial services sector.”

The JGC currently regulates five remote gambling operators, including Islands Lotto, and four platform providers.