News

GamCare calls for responsible gambling education to be part of the school curriculum

24 November 2011

The GamCare Logo

Interviewee available: Andy McLellan, Chief Executive, GamCare

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GamCare has responded to the Department for Education review of  Personal, Social, Health and Economic education by arguing strongly for the addition of gambling to the curriculum.

Chief Executive, Andy McLellan said:

“One of GamCare’s core aims is to ensure that gambling remains safe for all – and this is particularly relevant for young people. 

For the vast majority, gambling is a pleasurable leisure pursuit.  But we also know that at any one time some 60,000 12-15 year olds may already be problem gamblers – a prevalence rate of 2%, more than twice that for adults. The answer to this must lie in better education – for teenagers, parents and teachers.” 

Giving evidence to the Culture Select Committee inquiry into gambling, he drew attention to the opportunity afforded by the DfE’s review.

“The DfE’s review gives us the chance to make the case that the PSHE curriculum should raise awareness about the potential risks of gambling and include information about understanding risk and probability, and how to gamble responsibly – in exactly the way young people are already offered advice about the risks of drinking alcohol, taking drugs or smoking.”

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Press contact:

James McLarin, GamCare, 020 7801 7027, james.mclarin@gamcare.org.uk

Notes for editors

  1. GamCare’s full response can be found at http://gamcare.org.uk/data/files/DfEPSHEReviewfinal.pdf
  1. GamCare is the national provider of education, advice, practical help, support and treatment for anyone affected by problem gambling. Founded in 1997, the GamCare helpline receives nearly 1000 calls per week with 85% of clients rating the service as “very good” or “excellent”. In 2010/11 GamCare treated more than 2,600 clients. 90% of gamblers in treatment are assessed as problem gamblers; this reduces to around 30% at the end of treatment. GamCare’s return on investment is very high at 7:1. GamCare’s Annual Review 2011 and full set of GamCare’s 2010/11 statistics can be found at http://gamcare.org.uk/data/files/Statistics_2010_11.pdf .  
  2. In 2010 GamCare released ‘Beating the odds’ a critical review of the literature surrounding young people and gambling, this report can be found at http://gamcare.org.uk/data/files/Beating_the_Odds.pdf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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