In the US, we just pretend and deny the existence of Predatory Gambling Addiction.

The astronomical figures that show Wales has a huge gambling problem

• 15:42, 20 JUNE 2015
• BY LIZ DAY

Wales' first gambling conference called When Luck Runs Out will take place in the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday, June 24

Julie Pritchard, right, and her late father Francis

Addiction experts have warned that Wales has “a serious gambling problem” after figures revealed gamblers are staking BILLIONS of pounds every year.

The most recent data from The Gambling Commission has revealed that Welsh gamblers staked more than £1.6bn on fixed odds betting terminals in 2012 and lost nearly £52m.

Clive Wolfendale, chief executive of CAIS drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Wrexham, described gambling addiction as “one of the key challenges of our age”.

Average person gambles £675 a year

Because addicted gamblers pour their winnings back into the terminals, the figures for the total amount staked are astronomical.

According to the research, there were nearly 1,500 fixed odds betting terminals in Wales in 2012 and the average person staked £675 during the year.

Gamblers in Newport bet an average of £1,191 over the year, compared to £1,121 in Wrexham and £1,053 in Cardiff.

Related: Gambling addicts need same treatment as alcoholics

The British gambling industry generated a gross yield of more than £6.8 billion between April 2013 and March 2014, an increase of 6% on the previous year.

Figures show that 68% of men and 61% of women in England gambled in 2012.

Aside from the research into fixed odds betting terminals, there is little data available on gambling in Wales and campaigners are calling for more research to be carried out into the problem.

How many are problem gamblers?

“There are no statistics gathered about problematic gambling and gambling disorder in Wales,” explained Tim Leighton, of Action on Addiction.

Estimates based on the English Health Survey from 2012 suggest that 1.8% of men and 0.2% of women are problem gamblers, with more than a third of the men aged between 16 and 24.

Extrapolation of the findings suggests there are currently around 114,000 problem gamblers in Wales.

“We are a nation with a serious gambling problem,” said Wynford Ellis Owen, chief executive of recovery centre Living Room Cardiff.

“Spending on fixed odds betting terminals in Cardiff, Newport and Wrexham, for example, is on a par with the more populated cities of Bristol, Coventry and Edinburgh.”

Gambling 'too easy'

He suggested that smart phones and tablets have aggravated the problem, by allowing people to gamble at any time of day, without having to leave their homes.

Reflecting on the consequences, he said: “Gambling is a major cause of indebtedness and sometimes, people can fall into criminality to pay their debts.”

He added: “People often gamble in secret, which means they are living a lie.

“When parents are preoccupied by gambling, they are not there for their children. Families feel the suffering most acutely and they do not have anywhere to turn.”

'Non-existent' support

After researching the provision of support services in Wales, Living Room Cardiff concluded that support for gambling addiction was “almost nonexistent”.

In response, they have helped to organise Wales’ first gambling conference, called When Luck Runs Out, which will take place in Cardiff Bay next week.

They have collaborated with an Australian charity, The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, to form a group called Beat The Odds.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/wales-gambling-addiction-conference-cardiff-9494763

Raising Awareness

Government betrays its covenant with its citizens by promoting Gambling Addiction and fails to warn or address the problem, instead continue to promote new and expanded Addiction.

We have lost our moral compass when we think this is reasonable.

Conservative AM’s call to raise awareness of gambling addiction

Published in News on Wednesday March 6th, 2013


Tory AM Mohammad Asghar AM called on the Welsh Government to do more to raise awareness of the risks to health posed by an addiction to gambling.

The South Wales East Am referred to a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists which investigated the parallels between alcohol and gambling addiction. The report called for consideration to be given to the Department of Health having a greater role in gambling policy.

Mr Asghar said: “I welcome this report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and its call for more awareness-raising about problematic gambling amongst public health practitioners and the general public to highlight the dangers of addiction.

“Given the serious implications of problem gambling to public health I am calling on the First Minister to consider giving the Health Department a greater role in highlighting the dangers of gambling as it does alcohol addiction. “


http://www.caerphillyobserver.co.uk/news/820916/conservative-ams-call-to-raise-awareness-of-gambling-addiction/

Internet Gambling Addict Jailed

Shamed Flintshire headteacher jailed for £53,000 theft
Mar 29 2012 Flintshire Chronicle

A HEADTEACHER who stole £53,000 of school funds to finance his gambling addiction has been jailed for 16 months.

A court heard how father-of-three Andrew Thomas Wilkie, 41, became depressed when he was suspended following an allegation of a sexual nature by a child.

Following a full police investigation, no action was taken against him and he was allowed to return to school, but he secretly turned to online poker gambling.

He blew the family’s £90,000 savings, then the £70,000 he got by remortgaging the family home without his wife knowing, before turning to the school fund.

Mold Crown Court, sitting at Chester, heard how Wilkie knew the charitable fund was operated within the school and not subject to local education authority (LEA) auditing.

He spent all that on gambling as well, which meant a proposed extension to the school hall at Southdown Primary School, Buckley, had to be put on hold.

Two anonymous letters were received by Flintshire LEA and following the tip-off Wilkie – at the school for 17 years, the last three as headteacher – was told an emergency audit would take place.

James Coutts, prosecuting, said Wilkie cleared his desk and went home to tell his wife they were in financial ruin. He then sent a text to chairman of governors Martin Bradley asking him to come around urgently.

Wilkie, who was immediately suspended, kept on apologising and said he wanted to pay back the money.

He provided four A4 pieces of paper detailing the money he had taken, said no-one knew what he was doing, not even his wife, who had trusted him to handle the finances and who was pregnant with their third child at the time.

The headteacher had been so trusted that other signatories signed blank cheques. Wilkie then photocopied one for school funds and made up a legitimate reason for spending it, while the real cheque was paid into his own account. He had also used school computers to make money transfers into his own account.

Mr Bradley had since taken him to Gamblers Anonymous.

Wilkie admitted two theft charges, with eight similar offences taken into consideration amounting to £53,438.

Patrick Williamson, defending, said Wilkie had been a highly successful headteacher, held in extremely high regard, and the school performed well in inspections.

His wife’s father was ill and died and when he returned to work in December 2010 he was devastated. The effect on him was significant, his accusers were still in school and his requests to the LEA for inter-agency help for the children and himself fell on deaf ears. His addiction to poker grew and he could not seek help.

Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said it was a very sad but very serious case.

The court heard staff and pupils had been left devastated by his crimes and in a state of disbelief.

Gambling Addict Embezzles from school

Another previously law-abiding citizen in a position of trust, gets sucked into the vacuum of GAMBLING ADDICTION --

Head teacher who stole £53,000 to fund internet gambling addiction jailed for 16 months
Andrew Wilkie turned to online poker while suffering from depression
The 41-year-old became 'mistrustful and withdrawn' after he was cleared following a child sex allegation
He blew his family's savings and remortgaged their home to pay for his habit
By Lyle Brennan

high flying headmaster who stole £53,000 of school funds to finance his gambling addiction was jailed for 16 months today.
A court heard how father of three Andrew Thomas Wilkie, 41, became depressed after he was suspended over a child's accusation of sexual misconduct.

Following a full police investigation no action was taken against him, and he was allowed to return to school.
But, the court heard, the police probe had taken its toll and he secretly turned to online poker, often playing into the early hours of the morning.

He blew the family’s £90,000 savings, then the £70,000 he got by remortgaging the family home without his wife's knowledge, and finally turned to the school's fund.

Mold Crown Court, sitting at Chester, heard how Wilkie knew that the charitable fund was operated within the school and not subject to LEA auditing.

After he gambled away the funds a proposed extension to the school hall at Southdown Primary School, in Buckley, had to be put on hold.

Two anonymous letters were received by Flintshire LEA and following the tip-off Wilkie - at the school for 17 years, the last three as headmaster - was told an emergency audit would take place.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2118902/Head-teacher-stole-53-000-fund-internet-gambling-addiction-jailed-16-months.html#ixzz1pxgE3Sb6

Headteacher Andrew Wilkie jailed for £53k theft from school

'Position of trust'

Wilkie admitted two theft charges with eight similar offence taken into consideration.
Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said it was a very sad, but a very serious case.

"The most significant aggravating feature is that you were in a position of trust," said Judge Hughes.

"Given your role as headmaster it was a high degree of trust.

"The funds that ought have been used for the benefit of pupils have been lost and there has been an impact on both staff and pupils at the school."

A specialist financial investigation will now take place under The Proceeds of Crime Act to see how much money can be returned, the court heard.

Headmaster jailed for stealing to feed gambling habit