UK's Leading Gambling Charity Refuses to Bend to Betting Sector's Pressure
The United Kingdom's charity authority has launched an investigation into GambleAware, the country's largest organization focused on problem gambling. The Charity Commission confirmed to The i newspaper that they started a "regulatory compliance case" into the organization's operations. This step comes after receiving a complaint that the charity is too closely associated with the desires of its main financial contributor - the gambling industry.
GambleAware receives its funding through contributions from the gaming business in the form of voluntary donations. They received £46.5 million ($59 million) from operators during the 2022-23 fiscal year, as stated in official reports.
The criticism came from anti-gambling advocates and the Good Law Society, a non-profit group devoted to using litigation to promote a better world.
The allegation states that GambleAware's affiliation with the industry results in "all its activities" being based on the industry's interpretation of gambling. This co-dependence has led to a "total failure to consider alternatives that are critical of industry practices," it asserts.
The complaint highlights an instance where a lesson plan created to educate Grade 10 students about gambling problems contained a note for instructors, stating, "This lesson is not meant to criticize the gambling industry."
The note continued, "These operators are promoting their trade just like any other potentially hazardous pastime. They are fully supported by law."
One part of the lesson required students to evaluate a conversation between two fictional characters, "George" and "Ira." George disputes Ira's claim that online bingo is a profitable venture by asserting that people should not engage in such activities because they may lose all of their money. George's statement is described as "false" in the lesson guide, while Ira's remark remains unchallenged.
The complaint also critiques GambleAware's emphasis on "gambling responsibly" instead of "giving up gambling."
"You have this 'responsible' approach, where if someone becomes addicted, it's somehow their fault because the message is out there and they should have been responsible," Annie Ashton, who lost her husband to gambling, told The i.
'Groundless Assertion'
GambleAware CEO Zoe Osmond disregarded the claim as "groundless," "severely damaging," and grounded on "misleading and outdated information."
Osmond reinforced that GambleAware is "thoroughly independent" and has "repeatedly demanded the establishment of a statutory funding system to keep the gambling industry in check."
"The treatment and support we finance, including the National Gambling Support Network and National Gambling Helpline, represent among the few defenses available for the millions affected by gambling harms yearly," she added. Video
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- Gambling is a key legal activity in England.
- GambleAware is an independent organization that provides resources and support for problem gamblers.
- GambleAware relies on donations from the gambling industry to fund these efforts.
- Critics claim that this connection renders GambleAware susceptible to industry influence.
- GambleAware has come under fire for prioritizing "gambling responsibly" over encouraging individuals to quit gambling entirely.
- GambleAware CEO denies the allegations, reasserting the organization's autonomy and its importance for those affected by gambling-related issues. Source
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Source: www.casino.org
