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Stress from coronavirus lockdown ‘could lead to problem gambling’

Paloma Kubiak
Written By:
Paloma Kubiak
Posted:
Updated:
24/03/2020

An online gambling firm said it will need to monitor and prevent gambling-related harm as people spend more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a covid-19 trading update and outlook for the year ahead, 888 said it is monitoring closely the spread of the virus.

With major sporting events being cancelled and postponed, and given the government announcement to ‘stay at home to save lives’, people will spend more time at home.

The potential increased stress from economic uncertainty, means 888’s vigilance on safe gambling and preventing gambling-related harm is “even more important than ever”.

The statement read: “The Group continues to offer its customers support and is proactively communicating with its customers to make them aware of safe gambling tools to limit and control their play.

“In addition, 888 continues to leverage its unique Observer software to scan player data and identify potential areas of concern in order to prevent gambling harm.”

Gamblers in the UK will be banned from using credit cards from April, the Gambling Commission announced earlier this year. It revealed around 800,000 people gamble on credit card, with one in five of those being classed as ‘problem gamblers’.