Latest news with #GamblingAct2005
Glasgow Times
13-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Public invited to comment on East Dunbarton gambling policy
East Dunbartonshire Licensing Board needs to review its Statement of Licensing Principles every three years as part of the Gambling Act 2005. A draft statement has been prepared that will cover the period from 2025 to 2028. The board is consulting with the Gambling Commission, Police Scotland, representatives of businesses, and the general public to gather views on the revised draft. Read more: 'Double the fun' as FOUR sets of twins join Glasgow school Councillor Stewart MacDonald, the convener of East Dunbartonshire Licensing Board, said: "We have a number of responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005, primarily in relation to licensed premises. "I would invite anyone with an interest in this subject to visit the website and provide feedback to help inform the updated statement." People and organisations can email their comments on any part of the draft statement to Written responses can be sent to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, Legal and Democratic Services, East Dunbartonshire Council, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ. The updated Statement of Licensing Principles is expected to be published by early December this year and will be in place until 2028. Both the proposed new statement and the current statement of licensing principles can be accessed online at Electronic copies can be requested via email at or appointments can be made to view the documents at community hubs in Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, or Lennoxtown by calling 0300 1234510.
South Wales Argus
12-08-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Chris Evans MP on children seeing gambling adverts
These ads are designed to be eye-catching, often featuring well-known sports personalities, likely without their endorsement, to enhance their appeal. My children, like many others, are into sports. They look up to these athletes as heroes, something many parents encourage. But when these role models appear alongside headlines like 'free £2 shop bet' or the logos of major bookmakers, it creates a troubling association. We tend to think that advertising aimed at children must involve cartoons or toys. But sport transcends age and appeals to everyone. Even if the adverts did not feature the most prominent sports personalities, only symbols of the sport itself, it would still generate the same link and appeal. I come from a family of bookmakers and have worked in the industry myself. I've always defended responsible, adult gambling. But there's a growing sense that we've gone too far. Gambling is now deeply embedded in sports culture, whether that is on radio, TV, in print, and online. Even live commentary can feel like thinly veiled gambling product placement. It doesn't have to be this way. There was a time when tobacco advertising was just as deeply rooted, and we changed that. I believe we can do the same with gambling. I've spoken in Parliament about this and will continue to campaign for stronger laws, particularly to protect children. When the Gambling Act 2005 was introduced, the Labour Government of the time could not possibly have foreseen the rise of technologies like the smartphone, which put the ability to gamble in people's pockets. We need an independent regulator with real power to penalise companies that breach advertising rules, even shutting them down if that is what it takes. I'm encouraged that the government has acknowledged this issue and is working with the gambling industry to raise advertising standards. I'm also pleased that the Department of Health and Social Care is collaborating with the Gambling Commission to develop a new, evidence-based model for safer gambling messaging, one that's independent of industry influence. This is a positive first step, but more must be done. We need to reduce children's exposure to gambling advertising and break the growing, unhealthy ties between gambling and sport. I will keep pushing for reforms to make that happen. Chris Evans is MP for Caerphilly.
ITV News
07-08-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Why are so many slot machine shops in our high streets?
Reporter Lewis Denison meets Harlesden MP Dawn Butler to learn why there are so many gambling shops Gambling firms are being accused of targeting the UK's most deprived areas with high street slot machine shops, which can be highly addictive - and local councils have almost no powers to block them. Senior Labour MP Dawn Butler - along with the 37 council leaders and mayors - is urging the government to reform the Gambling Act 2005 which currently requires local authorities to approve almost all gambling licences. The two main firms, Mekur and Admiral, operate over 500 gambling shops in the UK, many of which are open 24 hours a day. Slot machines operating in these venues are a particular cause of concern. They allow a maximum stake of £2 with a maximum prize of £500. Since the pandemic, the number of gambling machines has increased from around 171,000 to 202,000. The NHS has warned that slot machine venues "deploy addictive products to keep vulnerable people playing for hours on end, against their own interests." It said it is supporting a record number of people who have had their "lives destroyed by gambling", with 15 clinics now open across England. Gambling safety campaigner Jackie Olden, whose mum Wendy Hughes became addicted to digital roulette machines while she had cancer, believes the addiction contributed to her death. She told ITV News: "We reached a point where she collapsed one day, and we finally got to the GP, and as she was going through all the tests for cancer, that's when she came clean, that she spent every single penny of their wages at a place exactly like this. "She'd taken a loan out for £11,000, secured against a house, two credit cards, one for £8,000, one for £3,000 loads of little short term high interest loans, £30-40,000 pounds worth of debt and every single penny of it had been thrown out and gone in cash to somewhere like this." Jackie has started a petition with over 40,000 signatures, demanding the government give councils more power to block betting shops in their towns. In a letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, council leaders said the Gambling Act 2005 is "desperately out of date and stripping power away from the health of our local communities and high streets". 'The alarming concentration of these premises is often met with strong community opposition, and concerns from public health and community safety officials," the group adds. "But, despite this shared opposition among residents, police and politicians, councils have found themselves effectively powerless to intervene.' They added that communities across the UK are "experiencing a groundswell of land-based gambling operators, spreading along our high streets and seemingly targeting areas of higher deprivation in a bid to maximise profits". Speaking to ITV News, Nandy suggested a law change could already be in the works. She said: "We've been looking at this issue very closely and were considering what more we can do to support communities. "As a government, we're very committed to devolving power so that councils and mayors can help to shape sustainable communities and take greater decisions about what happens in their local areas." She added: "I haven't got anything to announce today, but we are looking at this issue." Gambling firms have insisted they do not target deprived areas and that venues open in areas with already high footfall. But recent analysis by the Guardian has shown that more than half of the UK's Adult Gaming Centres are found in the poorest 20% of areas. Bacta, the UK's leading trade association representing the amusement and land-based low-stake gambling entertainment industry, defended adult gaming centres. Its president, Joseph Cullis, said the low-stake, alcohol-free venues are "among the safest places to gamble, with experienced staff on hand to identify problems and provide support to customers". He added: 'The idea that operators deliberately target disadvantaged areas is simply untrue. AGCs tend to open on high streets where there is already footfall, alongside other hospitality and leisure venues, and where planning and licensing permissions allow.' A spokesperson for the Department for Culture Media and Sport said: "We recognise the impact harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families and we are absolutely committed to strengthening protections for those at risk. 'We're delivering on our commitment to introduce a statutory levy on gambling profits. This is expected to deliver £100 million funding a year for research, prevention, treatment of gambling harms. "There are already a range of robust rules in place on gambling adverts, wherever they appear, but Ministers continue to consider the best available evidence in this area to inform effective action as needed." Mekur and Admiral have been contacted for a response.
Scotsman
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Former Livingston player appears in court accused of betting scam
Former Livingston FC footballer Keaghan Jacobs has appeared in court accused of a betting scam - by deliberately getting himself booked in a Scottish Premiership match against Celtic. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Jacobs is alleged to have attempted to cheat at gambling by picking up the yellow card on purpose during a game against the Hoops at the Tony Macaroni stadium in October 2019. Court papers state the 35-year-old is said to have 'acted in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card for the purpose of enabling or assisting others to cheat at gambling'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jacobs - who now turns out for Lowland League club Gala Fairydean Rovers - lodged a not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared in person in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday. Sheriff John Cook set down a date for trial in October and issued a bail condition that Jacobs, from Edinburgh, cannot approach or contact his co-accused Conan McDiarmid. Jacobs lodged a not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared in person in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday. | PA McDiarmid, 40, is facing a charge of allegedly placing bets, and arranged for others to place bets, on Jacobs receiving the caution from referee Willie Collum during the high profile match. He is alleged to have placed bets 'in the knowledge that it had been arranged that Jacobs would act in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card during the match'. McDiarmid, from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, pleaded not guilty to the charge at a court hearing last month and will stand trial alongside Jacobs at the capital court in October. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Both men are being prosecuted under the Gambling Act 2005, Section 42, 1A. The match involved in the alleged betting scam saw Livingston beat Celtic 2-0 win at the Tony Macaroni stadium on October 6, 2019. Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie was shown a straight red card in the 25th minute before second half goals from Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes clinched the points for the Lions. Jacobs played the full 90 minutes and was shown a yellow card by referee Willie Collum for an illegal challenge on winger Jonny Hayes in the 95th minute. Jacobs is a South African national who had two spells with Livingston between 2007 and 2015 and again between 2017 and 2022. The midfielder played a total of 252 times for the West Lothian club scoring 23 goals and has also played for Falkirk, Arbroath and South African outfit Bidvest Wits. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jacobs is believed to have made football history when he played alongside his three triplet brothers - Kyle, Devon and Sheldon - in a Scottish Third Division match between Livingston and Albion Rovers in April 2010. The 2-0 win in front of just over 600 supporters is said to be the only time four brothers have turned out for the same professional senior team in the same match. McDiarmid played as a defender with a number of amateur clubs including Edinburgh United and Whitehill Welfare before he retired in 2020 and moved into management.
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former SPFL star accused of betting scam in game against Celtic that his team WON
IN THE DOCK Former SPFL star accused of betting scam in game against Celtic that his team WON Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Livingston FC footballer Keaghan Jacobs has appeared in court accused of a betting scam - by deliberately getting himself booked in a Scottish Premiership match against Celtic. Jacobs is alleged to have attempted to cheat at gambling by picking up the yellow card on purpose during a game against the Hoops at the Tony Macaroni stadium in October 2019. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 1 Keaghan Jacobs in action for Livingston Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Court papers claim the 35-year-old is said to have 'acted in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card for the purpose of enabling or assisting others to cheat at gambling'. Jacobs - who now turns out for Lowland League club Gala Fairydean Rovers - lodged a not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared in person in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today. Sheriff John Cook set down a date for trial in October and issued a bail condition that Jacobs, from Edinburgh, cannot approach or contact his co-accused Conan McDiarmid. McDiarmid, 40, is facing a charge of allegedly placing bets, and arranged for others to place bets, on Jacobs receiving the caution from referee Willie Collum during the high profile match. He is alleged to have placed bets 'in the knowledge that it had been arranged that Jacobs would act in a manner whereby he would receive a yellow card during the match'. McDiarmid, from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, pleaded not guilty to the charge at a court hearing last month and will stand trial alongside Jacobs at the capital court in October. Both men are being prosecuted under the Gambling Act 2005, Section 42, 1A. The match involved in the alleged betting scam saw Livingston beat Celtic 2-0 win at the Tony Macaroni stadium on October 6, 2019. Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie was shown a straight red card in the 25th minute before second half goals from Scott Robinson and Lyndon Dykes clinched the points for the Lions. Jacobs played the full 90 minutes and was shown a yellow card by referee Willie Collum for an illegal challenge on winger Jonny Hayes in the 95th minute. Jacobs is a South African national who had two spells with Livingston between 2007 and 2015 and again between 2017 and 2022. The midfielder played a total of 252 times for the West Lothian club scoring 23 goals and has also played for Falkirk, Arbroath and South African outfit Bidvest Wits. Jacobs is believed to have made football history when he played alongside his three triplet brothers - Kyle, Devon and Sheldon - in a Scottish Third Division match between Livingston and Albion Rovers in April 2010. The 2-0 win in front of just over 600 supporters is said to be the only time four brothers have turned out for the same professional senior team in the same match. McDiarmid played as a defender with a number of amateur clubs including Edinburgh United and Whitehill Welfare before he retired in 2020 and moved into management. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
