Gambling with our health? Creating a new Public Health problem
30/1/2007

Today the Government will announce the site of a new ‘super casino’ for the UK. Despite numerous articles and research on the danger to health of expanding the availability of gambling, we are to have this new opportunity for addiction on our shores. But have the Government glossed over the societal and health costs of problem gambling, including depression and suicide, because of the significant income they stand to gain from gambling?

Last week the BMA’s Board of Science released it’s report into the effects of the liberalisation of gaming, including on children. In their press-release they highlighted the Public Health impact:
“There are also significant co-morbidities with problem gambling, including depression, alcoholism, and obsessive-compulsive behaviours. Currently, there are almost no treatment services for problem gambling available on the NHS, and advice and support for people with gambling problems must be sort from the many private and charitable organisations throughout the UK. The implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 is likely to have a major impact on gambling in the UK in terms of changing patterns of gambling and hence rates of problem gambling.”

There is obviously a conflict of interest here for the Government; raising tax revenues against the health of the nation, particularly children’s health. Would an independent Public Health board have had the authority to veto such a decision in the interests of our National Health? What resources have been set aside to deal with the predicted rise in addiction and co-morbidity?

At a time when NHS resources are under significant scrutiny and strain, has a libertarian philosophy been allowed to make the situation much worse? Or will the predicted tax revenues more than compensate for the impact on the public’s health?

Let us know what you think.

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