The Charity Commission in the UK is currently investigating a complaint against GambleAware amid allegations of spreading false information regarding gambling ancillary damage and suicides. The complaint was lodged by The Good Law Project (GLP), a non-profit organization chaired by Will Prochaska, the ex-strategic director of Gambling with Lives. This investigation could potentially impair the reputation of GambleAware as the UK’s forerunner charity.
Accusations of Key Issues Misrepresentation by GambleAware
The Good Law Project has committed itself to capitalizing on legal pathways towards positive societal changes. The organization lays extensive focus on spotlighting and addressing the UK government’s shortcomings. It has led numerous successful campaigns, unmasking debatable government practices, and played a crucial role in unearthing the Partygate scandal, causing uproar amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A correspondence from The Good Law Project to the UK Charity Commission accuses GambleAware of aligning with an industry notorious for exploiting the public. The complaint articulates disapproval of the charity’s ‘Bet Regret’ countrywide campaign, accused of insinuating that gamblers are solely responsible for their losses, thereby deflecting scrutiny from aggressive marketing approaches and harmful products.
“Rather than helping individuals quit gambling, the charity places blame on the very people it should assist and advises them to gamble “responsibly.”
Statement from the Good Law Project
Annie Ashton, widow of a former gambling addict who tragically ended his own life, supports GLP’s efforts, emphasizing the insufficiency of current protective measures against gambling harm. As part of its initiative, the organization vowed to help disclose the actuality about the gambling industry, pointing out that the UK experiences approximately 117 to 496 gambling-related suicides annually.
Non-Investigation Could Result in Legal Proceedings
The Good Law Project has requested the Charity Commission to ascertain whether GambleAware has infringed charity regulations by failing to distribute unprejudiced information. The organization argues that GambleAware disseminates a false storyline that portrays gambling-related harm as an individual failing rather than an industry-wide issue. This could potentially magnify stigma associated with gambling and hinder victims from seeking immediate assistance.
“Charities should be assisting those in distress, not catering to industry interests, and they should present unbiased information on contentious subjects.”
Good Law Project statement
This investigation’s ramifications carry significant weight as UK charities eagerly anticipate the outcome of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) discussion on the configuration of mandatory levy funding aimed at organizations involved in problem-gambling research, education, and treatment. Last summer witnessed the National Health Service assuming primary control of the £100 million levy, hence replacing GambleAware as the primary commissioner of funding.
The Good Law Project has expressed readiness to pursue legal proceedings should the Charity Commission decline to take action. The complaint supplements the continuing discussion regarding the impact of industry funding on combating problematic gambling in the UK. If GLP’s allegations are validated, it could significantly undermine GambleAware’s standing as a pivotal backbone of the UK gambling ecosystem.
