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UK News

Christian former gambling addict urges government to ban TV adverts

Justyn Rees Larcombe has been speaking to Premier following reports the remit of a government review into fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) will be widened to include gambling adverts.

Mr Larcombe told Premier's News Hour he fears children are particularly vulnerable to betting adverts, explaining: "The problem with gambling now is that it's quite invisible.

"You can hide your habit. You can go online and use a smartphone. Young people are the most adept with smartphone technology.

"I think we're normalising our children to behaviour patterns that will go on and be incredibly addictive and destructive for a small percentage of people."

The NHS says gambling has been made more accessible by the internet and it estimates there could be as many as 593,000 problem gamblers in Great Britain.

According to The Times, the government review into FOBTs is being expanded to consider gambling advertising, a decision which apparently follows concern from the Department for Culture about exposure to children.

One senior minister told the newspaper "the gambling industry's luck has run out".

Mr Larcombe, whose three year gambling addiction began when he saw a £5 free bet advert during a rugby match, said young children are being "bombarded" by betting adverts as they watch their favourite football team play on TV.

Asked whether tighter controls on gambling might have helped him in his struggle, Mr Larcombe, answered: "I lost my home, my family, my job, my reputation and even my self-respect.

"I don't know to answer but I don't know I even would have found gambling."

Meanwhile, Dr Dan Boucher, director of parliamentary affairs at the group Christian, Action, Research and Education (CARE) welcomed the government's decision to expand it's review.

"In a short period of time British society has been exposed to a huge increase in gambling advertising, which has led to betting becoming normalised to young people

"It is deeply concerning that the increased exposure to gambling has coincided with increasing rates of problem gambling - a trebling amongst 18 to 24 year olds.
 
"Statistics like these show that there must be an overhaul to the way gambling is currently advertised as it is effecting our rising generation."

Click here to hear Justyn Rees Larcombe from EPIC problem gambling consultancy speaking with Premier's Alex Williams:

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