Below is a press release on the establishment in the UK of the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust. Eight associations and twenty two companies in the leisure and gaming industry have expressed an interest in getting involved with the project. GF
 

The forward to the release is from Teresa Tunstall at GamCare.

    In answer to the Budd Report recommendations on the treatment and funding of treatment for problem gambling, the gaming industry has created and developed the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust. This important step forward will provide substantial support and commitment to the treatment of problem gamblers. 

    The GamCare Helpline in 2001 missed two out of three calls, caused by a shortage of resources, we hope in the future, to improve this and development and many more services.  GamCare welcomes foundation of the Trust and hopes that it is able to respond to the challenge of providing a sufficient level of industry support for treatment, prevention and research.

Teresa Tunstall
teresa@gamcare.org.uk
    
 

London
February 2002

1. Who are the Trustees?
    Lady Cobham Chairman, Mr J Appleton, Sir Peter Fry, Mr N Harding, Mr T Kelly and Mr Keith Smith, who are representatives of six major Trade Associations in the Industry. The Trust intends to appoint an independent Chairman when the post-Budd Report environment is clarified.
 

2. How much has been raised?
    The initial funding commitments now total  £0.8m. The Trust expects to embark on further fundraising in the autumn when it has decided on its future strategy and funding needs.
 

3. Who has made commitments?
    8 trade associations, namely BA, BACTA, BALPPA, BBPA, BCA, BOLA, COA and IGGBA, and 22 companies, namely Barcrest, Cambos, Carlton Bingo, Castle Leisure, Coral, Crown, Gala, Ladbrokes, LCI, Leisure Link, Littlewoods Leisure, MayGay Machines, Mecca/Grosvenor, Project Coin Machines, RAL, Six Continents Retail, Stanley, Thomas Estates, Top Ten Bingo, Tower Group, Wembley and William Hill. Others are likely to join.
 

4. What will the money be spent on?
The Trust aims to clarify its future strategy by the autumn of 2002, with the help of Consultants. Meanwhile, the Trust has sought to maintain the current level of services provided by the two main service providers with a grant to GamCare of £300,000 and £75,000 to Gordon House.
 

5. The Consultancy
    Consultants will be commissioned, through a Steering Group of experts, to answer the following questions:
 

• What are the priorities for providing support for problem gamblers?
• What is the likely demand for that support?
• What are the most feasible costed options for delivering these services?
• What are the costed priorities for researching problem gambling?
• What are the costed priorities for other steps to limit problem gambling?
• In what proportions should available funds be divided between and within support, research and education?

6. Who will be on the Steering Group?
    Representatives of the Gaming Board, the Economic and Social Research Council, the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the Gambling Review Body and the Trust.
 

7. Where can I get further information about the Trust?
Please do not hesitate to contact the Trust’s Secretary

David Beeton
Tel: 020 7730 1055 
Fax: 020 7730 1050
e-mail: gict@britishcasinoassociation.org.uk