Sunday Times 26th April 2020: APPG’s Letter to the Editor

GAMBLING ADDICTS ARE EASY PREY

There is clear evidence that online gambling companies are offering inducements to vulnerable gamblers and recovering addicts who are isolated at home (News, last week). They must stop this predatory behaviour.

It is time for this industry to act with integrity and adopt measures we have proposed to protect vulnerable gamblers: deposit and stake limits for the duration of the crisis, the closing of addictive “VIP” accounts, the cessation of gambling advertising and the provision of data on the scale of activity. The Gambling Commission also has a duty to ensure that the vulnerable are protected.

The actions of the industry at this time show that, now more than ever, reforming our outdated gambling legislation must be a priority.

Carolyn Harris MP

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP

Ronnie Cowan MP

Sammy Wilson MP,

Lord Foster of Bath

Bishop Alan of St Albans

Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Director, National Problem Gambling Clinic

Stephen Timms MP

Tracey Crouch MP

Stuart McDonald MP

Jim Shannon MP

Lord Clement-Jones

Gerald Jones MP

Richard Holden MP

David Linden MP

Jessica Morden MP

Steve Baker MP

Alison Thewliss MP

Judith Cummins MP

Sir Desmond Swayne MP

Patricia Gibson MP

Lord Beecham

Baroness Eaton

Jeff Smith MP

Mike Penning MP

Ruth Cadbury MP

Tim Loughton MP

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

Richard Bacon MP

Rachel Hopkins MP

Neil Parish MP

Ian Byrne MP

Robin Millar MP

Apsana Begum MP

Peter Gibson MP

Paula Barker MP