Gambling Debts In Scotland – Credit Cards Ban
When the fun stops. Stop. But what happens when you just can’t stop?
For many people in Scotland, the lure of gamble now, pay later has left many of them with an unfortunately high amount of gambling debts acquired by use of credit card facilities.
Trust Deed Scotland welcomes the latest initiative from the Gambling Commission aimed at curbing gambling debts in Scotland. As reported by the BBC, credit cards are to be banned as a payment method for online gambling and bookies shops.
Amanda Hendry of Trust Deed Scotland, the leading provider of qualified debt advice in Scotland said “We see this new measure as a welcome addition in the fight to reducing gambling debts in Scotland.
Over the last decade, we’ve spoken to thousands of people who have developed significant personal debt issues due to their excessive gambling problems further developing credit card debts.
However, while this is of course a welcome initiative, we feel there could be more done to help educate the public on the dangers of developing gambling debts and furthermore supporting gambling addictions in their infancy before they eventually develop into a gambling debt.”
The BBC reports that a total number of twenty-four million adults in in the UK gamble, with a figure of 10.5m doing so online. 22% of online gamblers using credit cards to fund their flutters are classed as problem gamblers. A string of online gambling retailers such as Paddy Power (Betfair), Bet365 and 888 Holdings have swollen an industry typically dominated by the traditional high street bookmakers such as Ladbrokes Coral, William Hill and Betfred.
Speaking to the BBC, Neil McArthur commented “credit card gambling can lead to significant financial harm. The ban that we have announced today should minimise the risks of harm to consumers from gambling with money they do not have”
Information gained from the Gambling Commission highlighted that several individuals in Scotland responded to their survey and were subsequently identified as having a gambling problem. The Gambling Commission found that there was a wider pool of respondents with a determined low risk of developing gambling debts in Scotland.
Fortunately, due to the support from the Gambling Commission, there was a recorded decline in the number of individuals in the same survey from the previous year, with this latest initiative; this can only help to reduce that figure further.
Gambling Debts In Scotland – Get Help Now
The first, most obvious step is to completely stop your gambling.
GamCare – Gamcare offers support and information for partners, friends and family of people who gamble compulsively.
Gamblers Anonymous Scotland – Local support groups for anyone in Scotland affected by their own, or someone else’s gambling problem – find your nearest group there.
No debt solution is offered with an allowance for continued gambling. If you are continuing to gamble, you’ll struggle to keep up with your agreed payment towards your debt solution. You will likely struggle to pay important priority debts, and your creditors are unlikely to accept gambling as a valid outgoing. A failed debt solution is a bad outcome for everyone, not only for you; your creditor too.
Getting Debt Advice On Your Gambling Debts In Scotland
Even if you have gambled recently, get debt advice now. Trust Deed Scotland have helped many people with gambling debts. You won’t be judged by our qualified advisors and any conversation you have is confidential.
Fortunately, unlike a roulette wheel or puggy machine, our Trust Deed Debt Calculator helps you to find out if you qualify based on factual information and isn’t determined by the luck of the draw.
Call us today on 0141 221 0999 or try our calculator as your first step to a brighter future.