The problem is that we are mass advertising and marketing an addictive product that could ensnare anyone. The white paper acknowledges that gambling is harmful to health and must be regulated, but the government seems to struggle to understand that gambling harm and addiction is not the product of a minority of flawed, weak, vulnerable people. Many European countries have imposed significant curbs on advertising, and this represents a big failure of the government to reduce harm. The recently announced voluntary ban on front-of-shirt advertising in football sends a confusing message, since it will continue on shirt sleeves, in stadiums, TV, radio and online. There is concern that they are not being protected. This would lead to a meaningful reduction in harm, but many of our patients, including women, are motivated by more time playing using low stakes, rather than by money, sucked into a mindless state for prolonged periods. We want to see stake limits of £2 a spin on online slots for everyone, and significantly slower speed of play. The risks are very different to someone playing the national lottery or playing bingo, and there is little in the white paper addressing this with any urgency. The biggest health problem is coming from smartphone games that allow people to carry Las Vegas in their pocket.
