Gambling: Perfect storm predicted in December, experts say
James Grimes is addicted to gambling. He spent all his money on World Cup bets. He used to go to pawnshop to trade for Xbox games. Now he spends all the money he got on gambling instead. The World cup is the "Mecca for gambling".
Sportradar expects there will be more than £860m wagered on each match during the World Cup. Online gambling raised £1.1bn last year. Online casino games dominate the whole sector. The World cup is "ripe for exploitation" by gambling companies. They use adverts to target young football fans to draw them in. It's a gateway to more addictive forms of online gambling.
GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline. Younger gamblers are more likely to use online gambling apps. There is a ban on betting marketing during football matches. The industry spent five times more on online marketing than on TV commercials between 2014 and 2017. The added pressure of Christmas can also affect the mind of a problem gambler. BGC says there is no evidence that gambling advertising is linked to problem gambling. It is not clear if there's a link between exposure to advertising and the development of problem betting. In 2018, betting companies increased their marketing spend by 56%.
Gambling reform proposals have been delayed until 2022. The 2019 Conservative party manifesto promised to bring up to date "analogue laws" for the digital age. A policy document is currently undergoing ministerial write-round. Carolyn Harris, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm, said the government needs to take "urgent action".
