·         The Citizens Advice were working to raise awareness of gambling-related harm not to demonise the industry but to give support and advice to those affected by gambling

·         Gambling-related harm was a public health issue.  The Gambling Commission launched a national strategy to reduce Gambling Harms in April 2019

·         The research, education and treatment of gambling harm is overseen by the Gambling Commission, Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and Gamble Aware

·         There were 11 project workers throughout England and Wales helping to deliver the strategy assisting training front-line staff to be able to identify signs of gambling-related harm

·         The research, education and treatment work carried out by the Gambling Commission was funded by voluntary donations from the Gambling industry.  There was a recommendation made by the House of Lords to introduce a statutory levy

·         As defined by the Gambling Act 2005 Gambling was betting, gaming or participating in a lottery, where gaming meant playing a game of chance for a prize and a prize was defined as money or ‘moneys’ worth’

·         The Gambling industry generated a huge level of revenue.  After pay-outs to customers this figure was around £14 billion

·         Harmful gambling was defined as repetitive gambling that disrupts or damages personal, family or recreational pursuits.  The effects of harmful gambling could have a lasting detrimental impact

·         A result of compulsive gambling could cause issues of homelessness, mental health problems, loss of employment and family relationships and the risk of criminal activity

·         It was estimated that for every problem gambler between 6 and 10 additional people could be affected by gambling-related harm

·         The cost of treatment for people living with gambling-related harm was a big burden on the public purse

·         Groups at risk of harm from gambling included children, adolescents and young adults (including students), as well as people with mental health issues due to substance abuse

·         To tackle the issue of gambling-related harm frontline workers, welfare officers and support staff across a range of agencies from Local Authority to citizens advice offices

·         It was encouraged that the Local Authority developed a relationship with local treatment organisations as well as responsible gambling providers

·         Primary and secondary health care costs in 2017 were £760 million and only likely to increase

·         Of the 47% of adults who gambled in the last week 20.6% were likely to have done so online.  4/10 gamblers bet as a result of having seen an advert.  Over the last five years the number of calls to gambling helplines had risen by 30%.  Close to half a million children (aged 11 to 16) bet regularly online.  Only 1/50 adult problem gamblers get support.

In response to questions the Project Worker Gambling Support Service Officer gave the following responses:

·         The Department for Transport published its Statutory Taxi and Private Vehicle Standards in July 2020

·         The standards were intended to protect vulnerable adults and children

·         Each licensing authority had to implement the standards, and would have to report back to the Department for Transport on how the standards were being implemented and progress as a result of implementation

·         If an authority was not going to implement conditions or standards then reasons for that decision had to be made and sent to the Department for Transport

·         A report would come to either October or November 2020 committee divided into three categories, much like a traffic light system, the conditions and standards North Devon Council currently did or did not implement, recommendations would be made for any missing standards with the possibility of public consultation required