Fears over gambling shake-up

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Casinos, online betting sites, bookmakers and other gambling operators can now advertise on television for the first time.

The changes open the door to the first £1 million bingo prize and lift restrictions on casinos, such the requirement for customers to be members.

The Government hopes the Gambling Act 2005, which overhauls pieces of legislation dating back as far as 1845, will protect children and vulnerable people, cut crime and ensure games are fair.

But the Salvation Army said the new laws allowed for a general increase in the number of gambling premises, particularly betting shops.

"Gambling is not a normal leisure activity," the organisation said. "Whilst some people enjoy a flutter or bet from time to time, gambling can become addictive and cause many problems. The results can be devastating on the individual, their friends, family, and on society."

The charity GamCare called on the Government to make changes to the new regulations to force bookmakers, casinos and some online operators to include its helpline number in advertisements.

GamCare staff are gearing up for a rise in the volume of calls in the wake of the changes. "An increase in gambling equates to an increase in whatever small proportion of individuals who gamble who get into difficulty," spokeswoman Nicola Crewe-Read said.

Peter Dean, chairman of the Gambling Commission, insisted there were "strict measures" in place to prevent problems emerging.

"I don't know what the increase is going to be, but what I do know is that there are very strict measures which we have introduced which will certainly help to reduce problem gambling," he told BBC Radio 4.