The UK government has rejected claims by the opposition Conservative Party
that there has been a sharp increase in online gambling addiction since
laws were relaxed several years ago.
The Conservatives have claimed that over 17,000 new English gamblers have
become addicted since the laws were changed in 2007. Their estimates were based
on the fact that nearly 250,000 more people gamble online since the change, as
well as information released by the Gambling Commission that 7.4% of these go on
to become addicted to the pastime in one form or another.
The Conservative shadow gambling minister, Tobias Ellwood said: "The
government has been happy to sit idly by and do nothing to stop the surge in
unregulated online gambling. With each year that passes, more people are getting
addicted to these sites which offer little consumer protection. Companies that
advertise here must keep the UK's regulatory standards. We must ensure that
online gambling is done in a responsible and safe environment."
However, a spokesperson for the government would not accept these charges and
rejected them outright, saying that levels of problem gambling have remained
unchanged since 1997, long before the gambling laws were relaxed.
"Whilst it is true that more people are gambling online," said the
spokesperson, "it does not necessarily follow that more are becoming problem
gamblers."
The Conservatives have often stated that should they come to power, they
would make changes to the current laws, including stricter advertising standards
and licensing regulations.
