A stunning little piece of investigative journalism has got the UK Gambling Commission sitting up to take notice. The BBC’s Radio 5 Live sent reporter Rob Cave to get himself signed up as self-excluded in no fewer than twenty-one betting shops across the seaside town of Grimsby, and then attempt to enter the premises and place bets. He was only asked to leave by a feeble two venues out of the twenty-one, offering a very clear demonstration that the existing self-exclusion systems are next to useless as they stand.
These current provisions for a self-exclusion system are themselves fairly new, having been brought in by the industry only last year. It is clear from this neat piece of reporting, however, that without proper implementation these regulations are simply a straw man, offering no real substantial defence against problem gambling on the high street.
The Executive Director of the UKGC, Sarah Gardner, stated that the Commission would be “making our own inquiries” and also suggested that they are aiming for the industry to act at an earlier stage with players identified as at risk, “before there is a need to self-exclude”.
The Association of British Bookmakers was asked to offer a statement on the matter, and they indicated that they accepted the result of this report was “disappointing” but that it was a small sample of results, and that the reporter himself would not have been visually recognisable to shop staff, as many local problem gamblers would be. The ABB also referenced existing surveys indicate that self-exclusion is successful in limiting or preventing gambling in 83% of cases. A good way to follow-up on this might well be a survey of those willing to come forward as self-excluded, to find out how well-protected they feel under the current system.
