The Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling has published the findings of a joint research project between the Magistrates’ Association, the Howard League for Penal Reform and Staffordshire University, looking into sentencers’ understanding and treatment of problem gamblers.
The research examined the extent to which sentencers in England and Wales are aware of problem gambling in court, their practice when it is apparent, and their views on the potential for courts to address problem gambling. The research was conducted through an online survey, focus groups, and a stakeholder group discussion.
Key findings included:
- Problem gambling did not come up frequently in criminal cases, but this was likely due to it being a hidden, rather than non-existent, issue.
- Where problem gambling was a factor in offending behaviour seen in magistrates courts, 26 per cent related to theft offences, 15 per cent related to the use of unauthorised credit cards, and 11 per cent related to domestic abuse.
- 93 per cent of survey participants perceived gambling as an addiction similar to drugs and alcohol.
- While therapeutic stakeholders were aware of evidence of how gambling affects the brain, this knowledge needs to be translated into the criminal justice sector to improve understanding and inform practice.
- 58 per cent of magistrates surveyed had a preference for more sentencing guidance on problem gambling.
- Only 14 per cent of magistrates surveyed were aware of a treatment service in their locality to which someone with problem gambling issues could be referred; demonstrating a need for greater awareness of gambling treatment services already available, such as the National Gambling Treatment Service.
The report makes a number of recommendations for crime prevention and community safety, sentencing guideline and criminal justice practice.
