Belfast City Council will hold a debate on problem gambling across Northern Ireland, highlighting the shocking lack of existing support for addicts.

Councillor John Kyle has proposed the motion which has been seconded by Councillor Donal Lyon and it is due for debate on Monday (7 January 2019).

The motion notes the enormous damage gambling addiction can cause in the lives of individuals and calls on the Department for Health and the Department for Communities to meet with an All-Party delegation of councillors to discuss improving support for problem gamblers.

Also included in the motion for debate is recognition that the recent steps taken by the British Government to reduce the stakes on highly addictive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) do not apply to NI.

Mr Kyle will call on gambling companies operating in Northern Ireland to follow the example of Ladbrokes who voluntarily said they would reduce the stake on FOBTs in NI, in line with the rest of the UK.

According to recent data from the Department for Communities, Northern Ireland has a problem gambling prevalence rate four times higher than England.

The same research also showed more than two thirds of the population of Northern Ireland gambled in some form over the previous 12 months.

CARE in NI has campaigned for the maximum stake on FOBTs to be reduced to £2 across the Province and today, the charity welcomed the debate and echoed the call for urgent action.

CARE in Northern Ireland’s Policy Officer, Mark Baillie said:

“We welcome this debate at Belfast City Council because it will help to shine a spotlight on problem gambling here in Northern Ireland.

“Based on the evidence we do have, problem gambling is a big issue across Norther Ireland with four times as many problem gamblers as in England.

“While for many, gambling is an enjoyable hobby, for a significant minority there’s no fun involved at all and gambling addiction can be enormously damaging for individuals, families and communities. Despite this, there is a shocking lack of adequate support for problem gamblers.

“This needs to change. It’s not good enough that accessing support services is so dependent on how much money you earn.

“While the British Government has taken steps against highly addictive FOBTs, that decision does not apply here and it’s fair to say FOBTs in NI operate in a legal grey area.

“Ladbrokes have set the pace with their decision to voluntarily reduce the stakes in their shops in Northern Ireland but so far no other bookie has publically announced that they are doing the same. Hopefully this debate will provide other betting companies with extra motivation to take action.

“Of course there is a limit to what one council can achieve and the real need is for a functioning Assembly and the social devastation caused by problem gambling is yet another reason why we need the Assembly back up and running as soon as possible.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information / interview requests, please contact James Mildred: james.mildred@care.org.uk / 07717516814

The full text of the motion up for debate on Monday 7 January, 2019 can be read here: https://minutes3.belfastcity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=164&MId=9127

In May 2017, the Department for Communities published a survey which found a problem gambling prevalence rate of 2.3% in NI, four times higher than in England: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/2016-ni-gambling-prevalence-survey-main-report.pdf

In November 2018, Ladbrokes announced it would cut the maximum stake on FOBTs in NI, to bring them into line with the rest of the UK: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/ladbrokes-commits-cutting-betting-machine-stake-northern-ireland