Wolverhampton Council has opened a public consultation to inform its Gambling Harm Reduction Strategy, as local governments across the country continue to confront the gambling industry.
With the opportunity to comment open until 20 March, the consultation aims to address what the Council sees as the “increasing harmful impact” of online betting, gaming platforms and targeted advertising.
Local policymakers have reported that 5.3% of Wolverhampton’s population is currently at risk of gambling-related harm, while 1.2% exhibit signs of already being affected by problem gambling.
Furthermore, the Council reports that between 2019 and 2022 only 70 locals sought gambling support through the local treatment specialist Aquaris. No data was provided about the use of the national helpline GambleAware, however.
Wolverhampton Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Gambling harm is a real and growing issue that affects individuals, families and communities across Wolverhampton.
“With the rise in online gambling and the highly targeted nature of digital advertising, it has never been more important that we take proactive, evidence-led action to protect our residents.
“We want this strategy to be shaped by real experiences and grounded in what our communities tell us they need.
“Your voice matters – whether you have been personally affected, know someone who has, or simply want to contribute to a safer, healthier city – so please take a few moments to have your say and help us build a comprehensive approach to reducing gambling related harm.”
All voices matter
The public survey is divided into two target groups – one for adults and one for children, with both closing on 20 March.
As such, the questions in both surveys differ significantly from each other. Adults are asked to give feedback on how often they’ve seen gambling ads across TV, radio, sports, social media and public spaces over the past 12 months.
Another question asks the survey taker to describe what they view the risks associated with gambling to be – ranging from financial hardships, through relationships, to mental health.
Interestingly, the Council is also seeking feedback on how well the strategy recognises gambling harm as a public health issue, signaling that Wolverhampton is likely seeking to position problem gambling as a national health concern – something that gambling reform proponents have been vocally calling for.
In contrast, children and under-18s understandably have been posed with more simplified questions, which in turn removes the complexities around problem gambling and strips down the issue to its core.
Questions revolve around the participant’s understanding of gambling harms, their view of the levels of risk to young people associated with it, as well as previous experience with gambling harm education at school.
Local powers grow agitated
Wolverhampton’s growing impatience with gambling falls within a wider nationwide movement that has seen Councils all over the UK calling for increased powers when it comes to gambling ad controls and betting shop licensing.
Last April, 35 Councillors and two mayors, including Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, co-signed a letter addressed to Lisa Nandy MP, Angela Rayner MP, and Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross.
The letter recommended urgent gambling reforms to reduce the centralisation of decision-making around gambling, such as the removal of the “Aim to Permit” policy.
The latest council to join the collective initiative was Hackney back in December. Also, while not part of the council posse yet, Bradford recently launched its own campaign to address a perceived rise in gambling harm rates among its own youth population.
Campaigners have focused heavily on how councils can prevent betting shops from opening on local high streets. The activities of Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs), which operate various types of slot machines, has courted even more controversy.
With such a large public outcry against gambling harms currently underway, major developments to how councils manage gambling locally are almost certain to come later this year.
However, this will all depend on how well the successor of Andrew Rhodes, the UK Gambling Commission’s CEO, liaisons between stakeholders and Labour policymakers.