West End Councillor Richard McCready has called for firm action by the local authority against the proliferation of betting shops and other gambling venues in Dundee.
He was speaking as he visited Lochee High Street which has three betting shops along its 600 metres. The city has more than 30 bookmakers’ premises and Mr McCready believes the issue could be seen in the same light as alcohol over-provision.
A link has been made between the scale of alcohol-related harm in Dundee, as shown by the amount of drink-related crime and ill-health, and the high number of premises licensed to sell alcohol.
Last month councillors agreed for the first time that it was too easy to get a drink in the city and tougher action is needed to stop the damage caused by excessive drinking.
The range of measures being considered to address the situation include banning new licences across the entire city, unless an applicant can prove their venue will not contribute to over-provision.
Mr McCready said taking similar action on gambling would require a change in legislation but he believed the city council should still address what for many citizens is a vice.
“Far too many people have problems with gambling these days and action needs to be taken to alleviate these problems,” he said.
“I think that Dundee City Council needs to take action to ensure people with gambling problems receive support which will assist them in overcoming their problems.
“There is a need to revisit the legislation around gambling. In recent years we have seen a proliferation of betting shops and a wider range of things that can be gambled on.
“I am very concerned about the longer and longer opening hours of betting shops and the way in which this has led to people betting money which they can ill afford.
“I am particularly worried about gambling machines in bookmakers’ shops where it is possible to lose large amounts of money in a very short space of time. Greater regulation of these machines is needed.”
“It seems to me that when I watch television these days that every other advert is for gambling. These adverts need to be regulated in a more effective way than they are now.
“Big businesses are profiting from the money of some of the poorest people in our society and there is a need for more regulation. It is wrong for some to profit from the misery of others.”
Councillor Dave Bowes, convener of the licensing board, said: “I will consider Councillor McCready’s comments and discuss them with licensing officials but the issue is to some extent guided by legislation.”