Charity voices concerns

Former UK MP Michael Dugher, now Head of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has come under fire from mental health charity Samaritans. He has been accused of “twisting” the charity’s words in relation to suicide and its links to gambling.

deliberately used to evade recognition of the established link between gambling and suicide risk.”

Dugher’s remarks came to address the death of Luke Ashton, a gambling addict who killed himself in 2021. Samaritans Chief Executive Julie Bentley said she was “concerned” the charity’s message regarding suicide was “being deliberately used to evade recognition of the established link between gambling and suicide risk.”

“People experiencing gambling-related harms are an at-risk group for the experience of suicidal thoughts, attempts, and death by suicide,” said Bentley in a letter to Dugher. She also sent a letter to Dame Caroline Dinenage MP to further set out her concerns.

What Dugher said

Dugher was giving evidence on gambling to the Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee last month when he cited the Samaritans advice that “suicide is complex.” He cited a Samaritans document that claimed: “There isn’t one event or factor that leads someone to take their own life.”

The Committee was questioning Dugher on the subject of gambling when the suicide of Luke Ashton was raised. A coroner found that Ashton had an undiagnosed gambling disorder and a recognized psychiatric condition.

Bentley criticized Dugher for using Samaritans words out of turn and urged the BGC to recognize the link between suicide and gambling. She pushed the gaming body to ensure that the necessary steps were taken to prevent the loss of further lives.

Samaritans work on gambling

In a bid to further the discussion surrounding gambling-related harms and suicide, Samaritans has established a document called “suicide facts for journalists and programme makers,” claiming that it is a “complex” issue.

more than 6,000 people across the UK and Ireland take their own lives each year

According to the charity, more than 6,000 people across the UK and Ireland take their own lives each year, and tens of thousands more attempt suicide.

Bentley went on to state in her letter that she is hopeful about the proposals in the gambling white paper that go toward addressing the link between gambling and suicide. However, she believes that there is room for BGC members to boost safety now.