Part of 1. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:16 pm on 28 June 2016.
Diolch, Lywydd. First Minister, I’m very pleased to hear that you want to use the regulatory powers that are available to curb problem gambling in society. You will know that around one in 50 men now is deemed to be a gambling addict, and that is a very concerning figure, and it can have very damaging effects on society. But do you share with me the concern that has been expressed by those who were present at the Living Room Cardiff conference, Beat the Odds, which was held last week in the Pierhead building, that there’s insufficient work being done to develop gambling addiction services here in Wales? We’ve got an excellent one here in Cardiff, supported by the Living Room and CAIS—a charity, of course, that is Wales-wide—but those are not available in all parts of Wales as yet, and there is an opportunity, I believe, to develop them. What work will your Government do to ensure that there is equal access to such services in the future?