GambleAware, an independent organization which aims at promoting responsible gambling, released information on the strategy it is to follow for the next five years. The objective of the new strategy is to minimise the number of people each year who require treatment to rehabilitate from gambling-related harm.
The organization, which formerly went by the name of the Responsible Gambling Trust or RGT, has reinforced its commitment to assisting compulsive gamblers through funding research, various treatment services and education.
According to the official press statement released by the charity, GambleAware is seeking to boost its funding to £10 million per year. The organization urges license-holders, advertisers, lotteries and professional sports clubs to contribute voluntarily to research, education and treatment services.
GambleAware’s press statement revealed the overall number of adult problem gamblers in the United Kingdom alone is estimated to be around 250,000 with a further 470,000 who are believed to be at risk of problem gambling.
At the present moment, only 3% of those people benefit from the services offered by the national network of treatment providers. With this change in strategy, GambleAware aims to triple the number of the problem gamblers who reap the benefits from the treatment services the organization funds.
By implementing the new strategy, GambleAware also renews its commitment to evidence-based research. The charity’s new plan of action involves identifying the causes for gambling-related harm as well as recognizing and implementing the forms of treatment which have proven to be the most effective. This is to be achieved through a 50% increase in GambleAware’s research budget by the year 2018. The aim is to boost the annual research budget so that it reaches £1.5 million per year.
Additionally, GambleAware is planning adjustments to its internal structure, which include introducing a new Audit and Risk Committee.
Katie Lampard, who assumed the position of Chair of GambleAware in June, commented the organization’s number-one priority is “protecting the vulnerable.” Lampard went on to say GambleAware is looking forward to working in conjunction with the gambling industry. Lampard concluded by saying the organization is well-prepared to challenge the industry, if necessary, in order to achieve its objectives.
At the present moment, GambleAware collects over £7 million per year in voluntary donations from license-holders operating on the territory of Great Britain. This donation system was first introduced under the Gambling Act of 2005. The organization’s programme of harm prevention, research, treatment and education is endorsed by the UK Gambling Commission.
