Belfast, 28 January – Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) are set to debate a cross-party private motion addressing gambling-related harm in the country.
The motion, introduced by the All-Party Group (APG) on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, calls for gambling to be officially recognised as a public health issue. Titled “Supporting a Public Health Approach to Address Gambling-Related Harm”, the motion was presented today.
Findings from a Year-Long Inquiry
The motion follows a year-long inquiry conducted by the APG into public health measures against gambling addiction in Northern Ireland. The group has put forward nearly 60 recommendations based on its findings.
Key recommendations include population-wide strategies prioritising harm prevention, aligning gambling regulations with the existing public health framework used for alcohol and tobacco.
The inquiry also highlights an urgent need to protect children and individuals already experiencing gambling-related harm due to marketing practices. The APG describes such advertising as “targeted and pervasive,” raising concerns about its presence during sports events and on social media.
Another major recommendation is for the Health Minister to address a gap in healthcare services by establishing statutory treatment services specifically for gambling addiction.
Growing Concerns Over Gambling Vulnerability
The APG stresses that Northern Ireland’s government, its departments, and the UK government must take decisive action in response to these recommendations. According to the motion, up to 200,000 people in Northern Ireland may be indirectly affected by gambling-related harm each year.
Philip McGuigan MLA, Chair of the APG, underscored the importance of urgent action to protect public health.
“Adopting a public health approach means treating gambling in the same way as alcohol and tobacco,” said McGuigan. “We need policies that not only address individual harm but also implement broader, population-wide measures to prioritise harm prevention. This is crucial because, just like other legal but addictive products, the entire population is vulnerable to gambling-related harm.”
