Bereaved families call for investigation into every gambling-related death
More than 400 addicts in England take their own life each year
Last updated 8th Dec 2021
The largest-ever group of people bereaved by gambling-related suicides will gather at Westminster today (8th December) calling for every gambling-related suicide to be properly investigated so that lessons can be learned.
50 family members from 18 families from across the UK – supported by the charity Gambling with Lives – are making the call to ensure their voices are heard before the imminent release of the Gambling Act review whitepaper.
They're also demanding for public health messages on the risk to life of addictive gambling products and for gambling to be made safer.
This would mean including changes to the most dangerous products, proper affordability checks, and banning advertising and inducements to gamble such as "free" bonuses and VIP schemes.
Family members attending include Annie Ashton who lost her husband Luke in April after he was lured into gambling by so-called "free bet" bonuses.
Judith Bruney also lost her son Chris after he was given VIP status by a gambling operator, and Charles and Liz Ritchie lost their son Jack.
The couple are Gambling with Lives' co-founders and will be speaking at the event.
These three families recently met with Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to discuss their concerns.
There’ll be a moment around 11.30am where all 50 family members gather outside Westminster on College Green holding blown-up photos of their lost loved ones.
Speakers at the event include Gambling Minister, Chris Philp MP and Carolyn Harris MP and Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP - who are Chair and Vice-Chair of the Gambling Related Harms APPG.
Lord Foster who chairs Peers for Gambling Reform will also attend.
Young people at risk from gambling-related suicide
The recent Public Health England report confirmed the devastating number of gambling suicides linked to gambling, giving a research estimate of 409 gambling suicides per year in England.
Research collated by Gambling with Lives suggests that up to 10% of all UK suicides are related to gambling and those addicted to gambling are thought to be up to 15 times more like to take their own lives than members of the general population.
There are between 340,000 and 1.4 million people addicted to gambling in the UK, including at least 55,000 children.
Gambling with Lives’ co-founders, Charles and Liz Ritchie, lost their son Jack to gambling-related suicide after he was enticed into gambling while at school.
Charles Ritchie said: "It's unacceptable that hundreds of mostly young people are dying every year and there are no investigations, and nothing is being learned.
"Gambling-related deaths need to be properly recorded and there must be an independent inquiry into every one of them."
"The predatory practices of gambling companies have gone unchecked for too long"
Liz Ritchie added: "We have ended up in a world where gambling is normalised by wall-to-wall advertising and sponsorship and those who have become addicted are seen as problem people who can’t gamble safely.
"But the truth is that gambling products are highly addictive and the predatory practices of gambling companies have gone unchecked for too long.
"It has to stop now. We’re asking that the Gambling Commission investigates every gambling-related suicide for lessons to inform regulation and to establish if companies have broken the law."
Charities warn more than 400 addicts in England take their own life each year.
Local treatments available wherever you are
Ian Semel is the CEO of Breakeven, a gambling counselling service operating in East Sussex. He says the current message of 'when the fun stops, stop' isn't enough:
"'For addicts and for people that become pathological gamblers, the fun stops from day one and you just get immersed into gambling.
"The message is making sure these people have access to the right treatment.
"Please speak to people. There is treatment locally wherever you are."
If you're struggling or know someone who is, you can visit the Breakeven website for more information.