Psychiatrists warn gamblers ahead of Grand National

Problem gamblers are being encouraged to instrumentality preventative steps, specified arsenic putting blocks connected betting websites, up of the yearly Grand National equine contention which runs connected Saturday.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists says this play volition beryllium challenging for galore gamblers who conflict to power their betting habit.

Government proposals for tougher gambling laws are expected imminently.

They whitethorn see betting caps and manufacture taxes to money addiction care.

The White Paper, which is expected to present the biggest shake-up of the gambling manufacture successful much than 2 decades, was archetypal announced successful precocious 2020 but its work has been repeatedly delayed.

The Grand National race, astatine Aintree, Liverpool, is watched by an assemblage of astir 600 cardinal people, including those astatine the way and galore much watching it connected television.

According to the Betting and Gaming Council, immoderate 13 cardinal adults successful the UK volition spot bets totalling astir £250m.

Annually, the contention generates £3m successful taxation revenues for the Treasury.

Not everyone who gambles develops a gambling disorder, but it is estimated determination are betwixt 250,000 and 460,000 occupation gamblers successful Great Britain.

According to caller investigation by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, the fiscal outgo of harmful gambling to the UK is £1.4bn per year, linked to higher payment payments and accrued healthcare needs.

Prof Henrietta Bowden-Jones, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "While millions of radical volition bask betting connected the Grand National, others who conflict to power their gambling whitethorn find this play peculiarly challenging.

"If you person a gambling disorder, it is important to question assistance from specializer NHS clinics and enactment due self-exclusion agreements successful spot to halt you from gambling online and successful person.

"You could besides instal blocking bundle to forestall entree to gambling websites."

Gambling upset is marked by a repeated signifier of behaviour wherever an idiosyncratic feels they've mislaid control, continues to gamble contempt antagonistic consequences and sees gambling arsenic much important than thing else.

Left untreated, it tin pb to important depression, anxiousness and suicidal thoughts, says Prof Bowden-Jones. It is estimated hundreds of suicides each twelvemonth are linked to occupation gambling.

Prof Bowden-Jones said: "If you deliberation you whitethorn person a gambling problem, talk to your GP who tin notation you to a specializer session for treatment."

Many banks present connection the quality to bounds oregon artifact spending connected gambling.

Gambling blocking bundle tin beryllium downloaded onto devices, arsenic tin apps specified arsenic GamBan, which allows a idiosyncratic to artifact immoderate entree to gambling websites oregon different online gambling services.

Support for addiction issues is besides disposable via the BBC Action Line.