MPs Call for Gambling Law Review to Curb Harm
In a letter to Ashley Dalton, the minister in England responsible for overseeing health issues associated with gambling and other addictions, the Commons Health and Social Care Committee called for tougher regulations on gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
It cited serious harms linked to gambling, including financial, physical and mental health consequences.
Advertising Exposure and Normalisation
In an evidence session last month, the committee heard that gambling had become 'prevalent and normalised' in society, with 80% of the population being exposed to some form of gambling advertising on a weekly basis.
One academic witness described 'intrusive and targeted' promotions by gambling firms, with accounts of 'people receiving offers of free bets in the middle of the night', the letter said.
Committee chair Layla Moran MP recommended banning gambling ads before the 9 pm watershed, curbs on sports sponsorship, and restrictions on content designed to appeal to children and young people.
Gambling and Suicide Risks
Moran also noted evidence from the charity Gambling with Lives concerning the lack of public awareness about gambling harms, including suicide.
The 2023 National Suicide Prevention Strategy identified gambling as one of six factors linked to suicide at a population level. The committee highlighted evidence that an estimated 117 and 496 suicides were associated with problem gambling or gambling disorder in England in 2021-2022.
A lack of awareness amongst coroners of the link between gambling and suicide, and the fact that problem gambling, unlike smoking, alcohol, or drug use, was rarely recorded in an individual's medical notes meant that most gambling deaths were not properly investigated in a way that provided justice for families or that learns the vital lessons which could save lives, Moran stressed.
The letter called on the Department of Health and Social Care to outline what steps it would to raise awareness of suicides linked to problem gambling amongst coroners and others involved in the investigation of sudden deaths.
The committee recommended that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) should develop a public information campaign about gambling risks.
Problem Gambling in the Population
A 2023 review by Public Health England, whose public health functions have since been taken on by the OHID, estimated that 0.5% of the adult population had a problem with gambling, 3.8% were gambling at at-risk levels, and 7% were negatively impacted by another person's gambling.
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence earlier this year recommended that primary care clinicians should ask patients about their gambling habits.
A government spokesperson acknowledged receipt of the committee's letter and said it would formally respond in due course. In an emailed statement, the spokesperson added that the government recognised that gambling could be 'hugely damaging for people and their loved ones' and that it is 'committed to better protecting everyone from these harms'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Phil Collins reveals reason for hospital stay
Despite speculation that the Genesis frontman has been receiving hospice care, his rep shut down concerns about his health. In a statement to People, he insisted that rumours of any terminal illness are "completely incorrect". The latest update comes six months after the drummer shared how his health issues - which included severe nerve damage from a 2007 spinal injury - had been impacting his ability to make music. "I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I'm not hungry for it anymore. The thing is, I've been sick, I mean very sick.".
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stryker lowers expected tariff impact to $175M
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter. By the numbers Q2 revenue: $6 billion 11.1% increase year over year Net income: $884 million 7.2% increase year over year Stryker expects a $175 million tariff impact on earnings in 2025, a slight decrease from the $200 million the company forecast in May. Stryker joins several medical device companies that have slashed tariff expectations, with several firms, including Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific, cutting the expected tariff hit by as much as half. Stryker CFO Preston Wells said Thursday on an earnings call that the changes were a result of the U.S. and China agreeing to significantly reduce levies. However, Stryker did not cut its forecast by as much as other companies because the recent trade agreement with the European Union, which set a tariff rate of 15%, was more than the 10% Stryker had included in its previous model. CEO Kevin Lobo said Stryker was impacted less than other companies due to its manufacturing footprint in Europe and having less of a presence in China than other medtech companies. Raised earnings forecast Stryker raised its financial forecast for the year, now expecting organic sales growth in a range of 9.5% to 10%, from a previous range of 8.5% to 9.5%. The company also raised its expectations for adjusted earnings per share by about 20 cents. Lobo said the update was driven by continued procedural strength, including implants, and demand for capital equipment. Wells said initiatives Stryker started during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as pricing and manufacturing efficiency, have helped drive margin improvements. Robot update Stryker shared an update on planned launches for the company's robots. In March, the company unveiled its latest orthopedic robot, the Mako 4. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the new system, but Stryker has not yet rolled out the robot globally, Lobo said. The company has new hip revision and spine surgery applications that are only available on Mako 4. Stryker's shoulder surgery application is currently on its Mako 3 robot, and is in the process of migrating to the newer robot, Lobo said. Because of that, the feature is still in a limited launch until next year. Stryker reported a record quarter for Mako installations, although the company did not disclose the number of robots. The company reached a milestone of 2 million robotic procedures performed with Mako during the second quarter. Recommended Reading Stryker expects $200M tariff hit, lowers earnings forecast Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Millions on NHS waiting lists yet to have first appointment
Millions of people in England on NHS waiting lists are yet to have their first appointment, new data reveal. Figures from NHS England last month suggest nearly half of those waiting for hospital care have not had their first appointment with a specialist or a diagnostic test since their GP referral. An analysis by health data specialist MBI Health suggests nearly three million out of the 6.23 million patients (48 per cent) waiting for treatment are left in limbo. Experts referred to the issue as a 'frontlog' and warned the crisis 'has gone unchallenged for too long'. MBI's analysis also found that around 70 per cent of referral-to-treatment pathways fall into the category of being 'unseen' since the patient's GP referred them to a specialist. Delays in making a first assessment can lead to late diagnosis, worsening symptoms and pressure on emergency services. The analysis found that ear, nose and throat, trauma and orthopaedics, gastroenterology, ophthalmology and gynaecology and obstetrics departments were consistently the specialist departments with the greatest number of patients not seen for the first time. 'That's a breakdown' As part of the Government's 10-year health plan, the NHS is expected to meet its target of carrying out 92 per cent of routine operations and appointments within 18 weeks by March 2029 – a target that has not been achieved for almost a decade. The latest figures show how challenging that target will be given an estimated one million of the three million unseen patients have already gone more than 18 weeks without receiving any care. 'If accurate, three million people are trapped in an invisible waiting-list crisis, stuck without basic diagnostic tests of first appointments while their conditions worsen,' Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, told the Guardian. 'The scale is staggering, as nearly half of all patients on a waiting list haven't been seen by anyone. That's not a healthcare service; that's a breakdown. 'These aren't just statistics. They're people checking their phones daily for hospital calls that never come, unable to plan their lives while their symptoms deteriorate.' Last month it was found people of working age are making up a growing proportion of those on the NHS waiting list for treatment in England. Data tables published for the first time by NHS England also show people in the most deprived parts of the country are more likely to wait more than a year to start hospital treatment than those in the least deprived. The figures, analysed by the PA news agency, showed 56.1 per cent of those on the list at the end of June this year were of working age (defined as age 19 to 64), up from 55.8 per cent a year ago and 55 per cent in June 2022. At the same time, the proportion of people on the waiting list under the age of 19 has fallen, standing at 10.8 per cent in June this year, down from 11.2 per cent a year earlier and 11.9 per cent in June 2022. The proportion who are over 65 has remained broadly unchanged at around 33.1 per cent. People of working age are also more likely to have to wait more than a year to start treatment (three per cent of patients in this age group at the end of June) than those over 65 (two and half per cent). However, the proportion is the same as those under 19 (also three per cent). An NHS spokesman said: 'NHS staff have made significant progress in reducing waiting lists in the last year, which are down by more than 260,000 since June 2024. 'All patients are assessed by clinicians as they are added to waiting lists, and we will continue with our plan to improve waiting times for patients throughout the year.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
