|
Most Recent Online Casino News
Gambling 'Epidemic' Blamed On Net Bets
A GAMBLING epidemic is spreading in Edinburgh
with internet casinos to blame for the problem, it was claimed today.
The number of addicts attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings in the
Capital has doubled in the last 12 months, with professional sportsmen
and business people among the new members.
Most of the increase has been attributed to a huge growth in online
gambling, with Edinburgh’s relatively affluent, computer-literate
population seen as particularly susceptible to the craze.
Relaxed banking rules which allow people to easily transfer huge sums
of money into special internet gambling accounts, and the ready
availability of credit cards, have also been blamed.
One businessman in the Capital racked up £70,000 on his company
expenses account in only two months, after clearing his bank account
and "maxing" his credit cards through online gambling. His problem was
such that he blew around £150,000 on online-betting in the space of a
few months.
An office worker has also come forward, saying he is spending up to
four hours a day using online casinos at work.
One long-standing Edinburgh GA member said: "In the past year the
number of people coming to our meetings has roughly doubled. Last
week, there were 25, with five regulars in attendance. Last April we
were having 15 or 16.
"About 70 per cent of the new members are addicted to computer
gambling. We’ve had businessmen and sportsmen coming in, several of
whom are finding themselves addicted to internet gambling.
Read the
entire article at:
Edinburgh News
2004 Online Casino News Archive
|