{"id":62292,"date":"2025-02-20T14:51:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=62292"},"modified":"2025-02-20T14:51:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:51:49","slug":"first-anti-gambling-policy-launched-to-save-lives-from-addiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/02\/20\/first-anti-gambling-policy-launched-to-save-lives-from-addiction\/","title":{"rendered":"First anti-gambling policy launched to save lives from addiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sheffield City Council has launched its first ever anti-gambling strategy in a bid towards trying to reduce the number of people with a serious addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy focuses on prevention and treatment with aims to reduce exposure of gambling advertisement to young people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It identifies not only the harms of gambling, but also provides information to young people surrounding the relevant prevention and treatments in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greg Fell, Director of Public Health in Sheffield said: \u201cWe will not allow advertising of gambling and related products on council owned properties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Fell explained how it is his job to set the \u2018right tone and narrative\u2019 in the city’. He added ‘The relevant licensing must be in place if premises wish to operate as an \u2018Adult Gaming Centre” – which is a betting shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A betting shop in the city centre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cThe council can execute its judgement about licensing whether it does or doesn\u2019t grant licenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy was co-produced by the Sheffield Gambling Harms Stakeholder Group which includes people from the council, the NHS and charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NHS will oversee commissioning of treatment, which would provide a leveling up of standards as the gambling industry relies on targeting people, and building addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The City Council will also work more on promoting people\u2019s awareness on the danger of gambling and create more projects to prevent young addicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Council Leader Tom Hunt said: \u201cWe can make people aware of the harms that gambling causes to people’s lives, and to work with our partners in the NHS and the government, to make sure that there is a clear and concerted action to do everything we can to mitigate those gambling harms.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The charity \u2018Gambling with Lives<\/a>\u2019 set up in 2018, provides support for families that have been bereaved by gambling suicide and advocates for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We run the UK\u2019s only specialist support service for families bereaved by gambling-related suicide.

Our bespoke service is free to use and includes bereavement and therapeutic support, help with investigations and campaigning, and community support.https:\/\/t.co\/RvuyHtPmEB<\/a><\/p>— Gambling with Lives (@GambleWithLives) February 20, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>