Agenda item

Ms J Mookherjee, Consultant in Public Health, was in attendance for this item.

Mr B H Lewis declared that he had previously managed a betting shop for many years.

1.            Ms Mookherjee introduced the report and outlined work which had been started since the issue had last been reported to the committee in November 2018, including a pledge by Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, of funding to raise awareness, online briefings for front line staff and work with district council colleagues. She responded to comments and questions from the committee, including the following:-

a)    the work streams set out in the report were welcomed as they were raising the profile of problem gambling and its damaging effects.  It was important that gambling per se was not demonised but that suitable measures were available to address problem gambling;

b)    in response to the concern that there was no centre in Kent to which those with a gambling problem could refer themselves, or be referred, Ms Mookherjee advised that the County Council had no control over what, if any, provision was made to treat this area of addiction. The addiction service in general was fragmented;  

c)    the view was expressed that addiction to gambling was as harmful as addiction to drugs or alcohol.  Ms Mookherjee replied that, from a public health point of view, any addiction was harmful;

d)    people under 18 were not permitted to place bets in a shop but could easily do so by using online gaming sites. Reputable betting shops would turn away someone who was obviously under-age but concern was expressed that many current proprietors may not take such a responsible stance. Using online gaming sites, young people could become very involved very quickly. The Government could be lobbied to take some action to address the accessibility of online gaming.  Ms Mookherjee commented that online marketing of products and services which could potentially lead to harmful habits was often more sophisticated than public health online information and safeguarding campaigns. Although the County Council would always want to ensure that young people were kept safe online, it was simply not possible to tell who was using online gaming sites.  Mr Scott-Clark added that he had advocated to the Association of Directors of Public Health that problem gambling be viewed as a public health issue and that the Government be lobbied to change the rules and legislation around it;

e)    concern was expressed that advertising for gambling sites appeared on daytime TV channels and could be seen by young people, although it was encouraging that such advertising during live sports broadcasting had been banned. The danger of adopting and becoming hooked on risky behaviours early in life was emphasised. Adverse childhood experiences such as domestic abuse or family break up could leave young people vulnerable to adopting potentially harmful behaviours;  

f)     young people aged 16 were not permitted to vote in any election but could buy scratch cards;

g)    the part played by deprivation as a root cause in the development of gambling and other addictions was acknowledged;

h)    the Leader and Cabinet Member for Health Reform, Mr P B Carter, commented that gambling addiction should be viewed as having equal status with the other public health issues tackled by the Cabinet Committee; 

i)     a view was expressed that, although, unlike other public health problems, gambling addiction did not directly cause deaths, it could lead to poor mental and physical health; and

j)     asked if hypnotherapy was known to have any beneficial effect on addiction, Ms Mookherjee said she was not aware of any service offering this, but both cognitive and dialectical behavioural therapies (CBT and DBT) could potentially be helpful if it were possible to identify people who could benefit from them.  

2.            The Chairman pointed out that Members could approach their local MP to start to address licensing issues and access to betting shops in their area. 

3.         It was RESOLVED that the information set out in the report and given in response to comments and questions be noted, with thanks, and the work being undertaken to address gambling addiction be welcomed and endorsed.