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British Report Warns of Dire Long Term Results of Liberal Gaming Laws
23 Aug 2006
A Department of Trade and Industry report has informed the British Government that its liberal gaming and gambling laws pose long-term threats to British society. The author of the report believes that the more widespread the availability of gambling, the greater the number of gambling addictions will become. The change in the number of gambling addicts will occur over a period of over 20 years, but have the potential to have a detrimental effect on families.
Although in the past Britain has been rather strict with its gambling laws, the 2005 Gambling act has allowed casinos, including online casinos, to expand their business. Because the internet gambling technology is developing so quickly, the laws will not be able to keep up. The report also sees dangers in spreadbetting, which allows people to bet on sports outcomes and stock market outcomes. Participants can potentially lose enormous amounts of money by gambling in this manner. An increase in the number of traditional casinos, gaming machines and bingo, as well as the growing popularity of internet gaming have greatly increased accessibility.
Experts on gambling in Britain trace the change in the normally strict British laws to its new liberal position to the moving of the issue of gambling from the Home Office to the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport. Now that gambling is defined as simply another leisure activity, the restrictions on it have been greatly relaxed. The easy access to gambling on one’s personal computer might make gambling into a regular form of entertainment.
