Inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm: 2nd oral evidence session

Date: Monday 27 February 2023

Time: 12:00pm

Location: Zoom

Chairperson: Robbie Butler MLA

Minutes taken by: James Mayne, Chambré

Members Present

·        Robbie Butler MLA

·        Philip McGuigan MLA

·        Danny Donnelly MLA

Apologies

·        Harry Harvey MLA

Secretariat

·        Will Chambré – Chambré

·        James Mayne - Chambré

External Guests

·        Alexander Kallman – Tackling Gambling Stigma

·        Anna Ingram

·        Barry Grant

·        Charles Ritchie – Gambling with Lives

·        Ciarán Mee

·        Clare Maguire – Youth Work Alliance

·        Clare Wyllie

·        Debbie Sharpe

·        Ed Sipler

·        Fiona Geary

·        Jane Rigbye

·        Karan Chhabra – BACP

·        Kev Clelland

·        Lynne McCullagh

·        Mark McQuade

·        Martin Jones

·        Martina Campbell

·        Maurice Meehan

·        Mhairi Kernaghan

·        Michael Smyth – Department for Communities

·        Oscal Donnelly

·        Peter Keogh

·        Scott Taylor

·        Sharon McElroy

·        Shelley Keenan

·        Steve Watts

Minutes

1.      Welcome

Robbie Butler MLA welcomed members to the meeting.

2.      Minutes of last meeting

Members agreed that the minutes of the last meeting (5 December) were a true and accurate representation of that meeting. Proposed by Philip McGuigan MLA and seconded by Danny Donnelly MLA.  

4.      Matters arising

None.

5.      Introductory remarks

The Chairperson opened by recapping the first oral evidence session on the APG’s inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harms in NI on 13 February. He then introduced Alexander Källman and Clare Wyllie of Tackling Gambling Stigma and former Gambling with Lives Trustee Martin Jones. He noted that Declan Creggan was unable to attend the meeting due to ill health.

6.      Inquiry into public health approaches to gambling-related harms in NI: 2nd oral evidence session - Understanding the need for public health approaches: lived experience

Martin Jones, former Gambling with Lives Trustee presented to members; emphasis the importance that the regulator in GB should have a duty to prevent harm on individuals and place a duty of care on gambling operators to reduce harm. Martin concluded that any potential regulator in NI should embrace those recommendations.

Alexander Källman and Clare Wyllie of Tackling Gambling Stigma the presented to members. Alexander told the group that perception and stigma around gambling addiction need to change, he said that stigma stops those with addiction reaching out for help. He also mentioned that even small, low level bets can lead to serious harm. Clare echoed Alexander’s statement and reminded members that the gambling industry should not have a free market as their aim is to make individuals loose more money and that regulation is the only lever to tackle the gambling industry

The witnesses then took questions from members.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their presentations, and members for for their questions

7.      AOB

None

8.      Next meeting

The next meeting will take place on Monday 13 March at 12:00.