U.K. Gambling Commission teams up with Wales' National Health Service

The latest figures released by the U.K. Gambling Commission show that around 20,000 people in Wales are problem gamblers and approximately 84,000 are at risk of developing a problem.

On Monday, 30 representatives from organizations including NHS Wales, local authorities, treatment providers and sports bodies discussed ways of reducing those numbers. Topics addressed included prevention and treatment services, public health messaging, gambling venues and research.

The round table event was chaired by Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton and Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur.

"Gambling related harm is a complex and wide-ranging problem and consequently requires a joined-up approach from a number of different organizations. It’s encouraging to see so many different groups coming together today to help coordinate approaches to tackling harm," Mr McArthur said.

"In our role as regulator we’ll continue to enforce standards we expect from gambling businesses – which includes stepping in when they spot gambling-related harm – and we’ll continue to look for ways to make gambling safer but we can’t do this alone," he concluded.