Calls made for gambling ‘education’

Gambling education ought to be included in the national curriculum in the UK, GamCare has said.

The organisation is calling for the introduction of better education to tackle problem gambling.

“One of GamCare’s core aims is to ensure that gambling remains safe for all – and this is particularly relevant for young people,” said chief executive Andy McLellan.

For the vast majority, he said, gambling is a pleasurable leisure pursuit. However, at any one time 60,000 12-15 year olds may already be problem gamblers.

“The answer to this must lie in better education – for teenagers, parents and teachers.”

GamCare recently appointed a new president, Lord Sharman of Redlynch. Speaking at the organisation’s annual conference last week, he said GamCare’s goal is to ensure that by 2015, all adults who choose to gamble and all teenagers and their parents should know how to gamble responsibly.