Gambling companies have admitted the industry has harmed hundreds of thousands of people.
Four bosses from UK betting companies accepted that gambling has been causing damage to society while giving evidence to MPs last week.
The executives from William Hill, Sky Bet, Paddy Power Betfair and Bet365 were challenged by Carolyn Harris MP, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Related Harm.
Suffering
Harris pressed: “Do you agree that the industry has done harm? There are people in this room who have suffered great harm at the hands of this industry.
“Many have lost loved ones, some have lost their homes and livelihoods, all have lost their dignity.
“Would any of you like to say sorry for the role your companies have done in causing damage to these people?”
‘Must do better’
Dan Taylor, from Paddy Power Betfair, said: “I recognise that the industry has got things wrong, and has caused harm for individuals, and we must do better.”
Sky Bet’s CEO Ian Proctor said: “We need to do better and I recognise, historically, we haven’t done that often.”
GVC, which owns Ladbrokes Coral and a host of other gambling companies, declined to be at the hearing.
Its boss Kenny Alexander stated earlier this year that problem gambling is ‘not the biggest social issue’.
Relief
Liz and Charles Ritchie of Gambling With Lives said: “We are relieved that the chief executives of Britain’s biggest companies have apologised for the harm their products cause families like ours.
“They must now acknowledge that gambling can kill and take the drastic action needed to prevent more deaths in the future.”
For information on the Bible’s teaching on gambling, see our explanation here.