A Cheshire East councillor has slated gambling organisations which ruin people's lives and 'heap the blame onto their victims with careful marketing slogans'.

Cllr Sam Corcoran (Sandbach, Lab) told the recent meeting of the full council the latest report from Cheshire East's director of public health, revealed the negative health impacts caused by gambling disproportionately affect those living in the most deprived areas.

And that betting shops are 10 times more likely to be found in poorer and more deprived areas.

"This is evident in Cheshire East, where 13, that's 43 per cent, of the 30 licensed gambling premises in the borough, are in the town with the highest levels of deprivation, Crewe," he said.

Cllr Corcoran said gambling is associated with increased financial difficulties and debt, increased rates of family violence, homelessness, substance misuse and suicide.

Cllr Sam Corcoran. (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

He welcomed the council's revised statement of gambling policy which includes, among its licensing objectives, 'protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling'.

But he said the public health report had 'really opened my eyes to the way some businesses make money out of ruining people's lives and heap the blame onto their victims with careful marketing slogans'.

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He told the council: "This is an industry that needs to be regulated and I support the revised statement of gambling policy."

Conservative group leader Stewart Gardiner (Knutsford) called for an item to put on a future health committee agenda so councillors could look at ways of providing assistance to people 'who find themselves damaged by these pernicious activities'.

This was agreed and the revised policy was approved.

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