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The Head of the Mental Health services in England has written to five major gambling company, are calling for urgent measures to combat gambling addiction and its impact on the health of the people.

Claire Murdoch, said incentives such as VIP-treatment should be prohibited, to stop the "vicious gambling cycle".

The industry said it was the luck of the game was determined safe.

and the controller is displaying for the exploration of the "bet" programs.

Former gambling addicts have told the BBC they believe they were games "groomed" by actions such as Free tickets to football so that you can in a spiral that you cannot "escape".

'Dangerous habit'

In her letter to the CEO of William Hill , BetFred, bet365, GVC and Flutter, Ms Murdoch said she was worried that the problem gamblers were attacked.

"I Am concerned that an offer for people to lose large sums of money. Free tickets, VIP experiences and Free bets, all of which encourage proactive people, again in The Vicious gambling cycle, the many want to escape. "

As a nurse, said More Than 30 years of experience, Ms Murdoch, you've seen "first hand the devastating effects on the psychological well-being of the addiction".

"The gambling industry has a responsibility to prevent the occasional flutter, turn into a dangerous habit," she added.

in particular, Ms Murdoch criticized The Practice offers a problem-players additional incentives to encourage them to spend more money.

These include VIP treatment, Free hospitality access, and Free bets and tickets

And She Said , betting companies should stop streaming live Matches , in order to prevent people to build, not debt they can afford.

"bet to view" streaming is accused of turning the fans in players, place by you a bet, observe the sports games, and the

'I was well-groomed'

James Grimes, a former gambling addict, who lost around say £ 100,000 by his addiction, even if changes have been made, and today it would already be to late for some.

"The actions, procedures, and products over the last few years have caused a Public Health crisis," he told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme.

"I was well looked after with VIP-systems, and Free tickets for football games - they scaled the game is The Relationship between football and happiness.

"It's changing now the time for urgent, in order to protect people. "

Ms Murdoch added: "The connections between the sports industry and gambling are deeply disturbing, and the tactic is used by some companies is a shame. "

"It is high time, the athletic facilities, watch and enjoy play again back to their roots and start focusing on the fans and the families of their heroes, instead of companies to hijack the sport In Pursuit of profit. "

Twenty-seven of the 44 football clubs in England's top two divisions are currently in-game companies sponsored by a fortune.

'you just can't escape'

Alex Macey is a former Police Officer who says his addiction to gambling cost Him £250,000.

"the Majority of spent my adult life [was], in a spiral of gambling, addiction and harm," he says.

"I think it is important that we have this news from the NHS, since this way of playing is inherently linked to mental illness and many people have extreme mental illness.

"And I looked back at My Own gaming history, and I can see that it is literally a bombardment of ads and text messages that you cannot escape even if you try your best to get out of this spiral. "

The betting and Gaming Council, which represents betting companies, online gaming companies and casinos, he said, took his responsibility for customers "incredibly seriously" and was determined to gambling safer.

he said It had already introduced a new age verification checks and a ban on gambling advertising during the games.

The organization said, he was happy to meet Ms Murdoch to discuss their concerns.

a total of 14 NHS hospitals for the treatment of gambling addiction are planned in England, with the

This is the answer to More Than 430,000 people with a serious betting problem.

said The GamCare charity, which offers support for problem gamblers and their families, were more people calling their Hotline, and more were in treatment - up to 9% to 9,049 in 2018-19.

the Online gambling, including betting, casino games and slots, it was a problem for More Than half of those who called the helpline.

If you are affected by this history, support and information available.

gambling, addiction, mental health, nhs, sports betting, companies

Source of news: bbc.com