'One in every 30 residents in north London borough suffers gambling addiction'
About 3.5% of Haringey residents are high-risk gamblers, with gambling venues clustered in deprived areas.Summary
A report presented to Haringey Council's adults and health scrutiny panel on October 1 found that more than one in 30 residents, about 3.5% or nearly 7,500 people, are "high risk" gamblers according to the Problem Gambling Severity Index. Public health director Will Maimaris noted a high density of gambling venues in poorer parts of the borough, with east Haringey having 55 premises compared to six in the more affluent west, clustered along high streets such as Wood Green High Road, Harringay Green Lanes, White Hart Lane and Bruce Grove.
The council hopes upcoming changes to the Gambling Act 2005, including abolishing the 'aim to permit' rule announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in August, will give local authorities more control over gambling venue locations. Haringey received £60,000 from a statutory levy on gambling operators for 2025/26 and plans further work with the North London Tackling Gambling Harms Coalition, possibly appointing a primary care clinical lead for gambling and commissioning Gambling Harm UK to provide school sessions at no cost to the council.
(Source：Evening Standard)