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Before furlough, I wrote this for the Western Mail. It outlined my fears as a recovering addict of an escalation in gambling addiction during lockdown. Worryingly, since lockdown began I& #39;ve received more unsolicited gambling texts than at any other time during my recovery /1
At first I deleted these messages frustrated I was receiving them. As an addict in recovery the last thing you want is temptation - or to be reminded of the turmoil of your past life. However, as they continued I kept the texts concerned at this upturn in aggressive marketing. /2
Noticeably, this was also the very first time I had received texts from UK gambling companies licensed by @GamRegGB and those signed up to @gamstopuk1 - the UK gambling self-exclusion scheme, which I registered with in Nov 2018. /3
Previously all text messages were from blackmarket companies outside UK jurisdiction. These are texts which I& #39;ve found impossible to stop, despite turning to my phone provider @EE who ultimately advised me to change my number. I& #39;ve used my number for years, so not an option. /4
I was concerned to read the tweet below from standards body @BetGameCouncil - especially as one of the companies to send me a marketing text, Dr Slot - a UK casino owned by Intouch Games Ltd, is a member of the BGC, according to a list from its website: https://bettingandgamingcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BGC-Membership-2.pdf">https://bettingandgamingcouncil.com/wp-conten... /5
Here is the offending text, still on my phone and the online casino the link leads to with details of the company which operates it. /6
Here are texts from other casinos all licensed by @GamRegGB that I& #39;ve received in recent weeks, although I must add, none of them members of @BetGameCouncil. /7
So this begs the question - why am I being bombarded with texts from UK licensed casinos that by being signed up to Gamstop I am not able to access anyway? I tried to sign in to all of these sites and thankfully was informed that I was self-excluded from all of them. /8
Is it because they haven& #39;t properly synced their exclusion list with their marketing list? Which I believe these companies are supposed to have done. If so, it exposes inadequate controls that only present temptation for recovering addicts at a time of high anxiety. /9
While I& #39;m 306 days into my own recovery & have no compusion to gamble (nor thankfully the means to do so), all these texts do is put a strain on the mental health of recovering gambling addicts who may be struggling. It& #39;s all too easy to relapse when you& #39;re put in harm& #39;s way. /10
The upturn in marketing texts and upsurge in online gambling that has accompanied lockdown bears out my fears that what we will see as we come out of this tumultuous moment in all our lives is a surge in gambling addiction. /11
That& #39;s why @GamRegGB @BetGameCouncil @gamstopuk1 need a tougher stance. My experience of lockdown shows they are not doing enough to protect those at risk. Why should a recovering addict with blocks in place still be subject to unwelcome instrusion from gambling companies? /12
Reform of gambling laws cannot come soon enough, because, frankly, the last thing I want to read is another story like mine... /13 https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/i-won-lot-money-minutes-17920921">https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale...
