Glasgow to host online Gambling Summit - with groups invited to take part

Glasgow City Council is to hold a two-day summit in September on the impacts of gambling and its many harms.

Supported by Public Health Scotland and the UK Gambling Commission, the virtual summit brings together a range of partners including academics, third sector, health professionals, youth workers and those with lived experience of the destruction caused by gambling problems and addictions, to examine the current challenges and develop a framework for action.

The summit will take place online using Microsoft Teams on 13 and 14 September and will feature keynote addresses from national and local leaders including the Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport, Maree Todd, and speakers with practical and research experience of preventing and treating gambling harms.

The two-day programme includes workshops and events for groups with an interest in gambling to take part in.  Groups can also apply to host a workshop as part of the summit. Interested groups should email gamblingsummit@glasgow.gov.uk

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of the council's Wellbeing, Empowerment, Community and Citizen Engagement City Policy Committee, said: "The city has had a longstanding problem with gambling, but we need to acknowledge that traditional approaches just aren't working.

"We should treat gambling with the same vigour as other public health problems. We need to take into account the different policy areas that could be influential in preventing the devastation that gambling harm brings to so many individuals and their families.

"The summit is an opportunity to bring people who have lived experience of gambling addiction together with policy makers and experts in the field to examine current challenges and share experiences, knowledge and ideas on how to tackle gambling related issues.

"From raising awareness of the problems, stopping the stigma and listening to those directly impacted, the summit will help us design a framework for a public health approach that prioritises education and early intervention as well as treatment and support for those who are vulnerable to gambling harm."

The Gambling Summit will take place online via Microsoft Teams from the 13^th - 14^th September 2021.

Further information including programme details is available via the link: https://gccwebsitehosting.z16.web.core.windows.net/ or email gamblingsummit@glasgow.gov.uk