What British regulators do to prevent underage gambling
With tight regulations in place, all licensed industry participants must comply with the established procedures to prevent minors from gambling-related harm.
Great Britain is home to a flourishing and well-regulated gambling industry whose total gross gaming yield amounted to an impressive £14.2 billion between April 2019 and March 2020.
With tight regulations in place, all licensed industry participants must comply with the established procedures to prevent minors from gambling-related harm.
The minimum lawful age for gambling in the country is 18 years old. However, this applies to sports betting, bingo and casino games, horse and greyhound race wagering, and online gambling. Citizens can purchase scratchcards or buy tickets for the National Lottery if they meet the minimum age requirement of 16. The question is do all Brits comply with these legal requirements? Let’s take a look at some figures to see to what extent the measures are effective.
UK Underage Gambling Participation in Numbers
The British gambling regulator, the UKGC, has consistently demonstrated commitment to protecting minors from gambling harm over the years. In 2020, the watchdog tasked the global market research company Ipsos MORI with a survey that aimed to measure the gambling participation rates among the British youth.
The coronavirus pandemic and the associated school closures partially affected the study because the results did not include youngsters from Wales. The study involved 1,645 Scottish and English secondary-school students within the 11 to 16 age group. As many as 9% of the survey participants admitted they have gambled with their own money within the past seven days prior to the survey.
Approximately 37% of the English and Scottish surveyed pupils said they had gambled at least once in the past year. Around 1.9% of the students belonged to the category of problem gamblers, while 2.7% were at-risk of developing a problem.
Comparison with the 2019 Participation Rates
Let’s have a look at the results from the previous year to give readers more context. The 2019 Ipsos MORI survey was similar but it involved more participants – 2,943 students aged 11 to 16 from all over the country took part. As much as 11% of the kids said they had gambled with their own money over the past week, with an average spend of £17.
As for problematic behaviour, 1.7% of the young people who partook in gambling belonged to the category of problem gamblers, while 2.7% were labelled as “at risk” gamblers. At first glance, the new figures indicate a decline in underage gambling participation.
Before anyone jumps to definitive conclusions, however, they should take into account the smaller sample size. The 2020 survey did not include students from Wales. The recent decline in underage gambling is by no means definitive. The latest figures do not represent the whole country as they did in previous years and are not conclusive.
UKGC Preventive Measures against Underage Gambling
Now, let’s see what procedures for preventing underage gambling the authorities have adopted to reduce participation rates among the British youth. One of the most important regulatory changes that occurred recently had to do with the age verification procedures at UK-licensed gambling sites.
Rather than verifying the age after customers request their first withdrawal, UK operators must now validate all accounts before users have deposited and placed any bets. Each registered player must submit documents to verify their identity and affirm they are lawfully old enough to place bets. Only then they can gain access to the website’s cashier and the demo versions of the casino games.
Another key measure concerns minors’ exposure to gambling-related advertisements. The UK recently witnessed more solid restrictions on gambling advertising. British broadcasters cannot show gambling commercials during televised sports events before the 9 pm watershed. These restrictions are of immense importance, even more so considering the 2020 Ipsos MORI study showed 58% of English and Scottish school students have witnessed gambling ads or sponsorships.
What is more, 7% of them confirmed this caused them to gamble even though they initially had no intentions of doing so. In this vein, it is also worth mentioning the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) strictly prohibits gambling operators from using advertising content and imagery that may appeal to children and adolescents.
The UK regulators have strengthened their focus on preventing minors from being exposed to gambling marketing content. It is no secret that celebrities, influencers, and other public figures often serve as role models for youngsters, especially teenagers. The trouble is their influence is not always positive or healthy for the youth.
This is probably one of the main reasons why the British Committee on Advertising Practices (CAP) proposed to ban celebrities, reality stars, and sports personalities from participating in gambling-related marketing campaigns. CAP has started a public consultation on this subject and the measure has not yet come into effect. Some campaigners have even spoken in favour of a complete ban on gambling marketing but only time can tell what will happen.
Responsible Behaviour Begins at Home
As tough regulators like the CAP, the UKGC, and the ASA are on gambling operators, the truth is responsible behaviour begins at home. It is up to parents and legal guardians to teach youngsters well and fill them in on the potential harms that come with excessive gambling.
The least they can do is set a good example and not gamble in front of the little ones. Parental controls are another effective approach when it comes to restricting minors’ access to gambling.
Never use your browser’s autosave feature to save the log-in credentials for your online gambling accounts. You can also block the access to gambling content on your child’s personal computer or smart device.
Parents can find free blocking software like Net Nanny or tools like BetBlocker on the internet. BetBlocker, in particular, has the capability of restricting the access to over 16,300 gambling sites. Last but not least, do not underestimate the importance of open dialogue. Parents should openly talk with their children so they can stop problematic behaviour before it even starts.
Business
A new coffee shop by a familiar Manc influencer with an ‘Oasis-inspired’ name is opening in town
Danny Jones
We’re never short of cafés here in Manchester, especially in the city centre, and there are a fair few great ones in the Northern Quarter alone, but this new coffee shop from a famous local influencer is one to keep an eye on – especially as it’s a bit of an Oasis pun.
‘What’s the story?’, we hear you ask: Morning Glory, that’s what.
That’s right, NQ’s latest coffee spot is not only a fun little nod to the Britpop classic but a little bit of innuendo by an equally cheeky chappy and familiar content creator, Zack Hipps.
With the Oasis puns and double-entendre boxes ticked off, it already ticks a couple of boxes, but there are still plenty more reasons to think this will be a success.
Morning Glory is opening in the Northern Quarter at the end of the month. (Credit: Morning Glory)
To start with, the jokes don’t stop as sandwich lovers will be glad to hear that there will be ‘Glory Holes’ on the menu…
Calm down, it’s not that kind of gaff. These are bagels that are sliced, stuffed with whipped cream, brushed with garlic butter, before being rebaked to golden perfection and finished with a drizzle of honey thyme. That admittedly does sound rather naughty.
Bagels are the main foodstuff on the menu, with a lineup of stacked fillings such as grilled peach with goat’s cheese and chilli jam; roast chicken thigh with smoked garlic mayo, iceberg lettuce and red onion and a ‘next-level’ ham and cheese stack.
Oh yeah, and it’s not only a coffee shop but promises to be a great and affordable spot for grab-and-go joe, specifically, too.
Morning Glory will be helping kickstart Manc mornings in the best way: with a banging coffee and bagel brekkie deal for just £5, making it perfect for those early risers and rushes to the commuter trams – OR, indeed, the ideal hangover cure after a night out in the city.
Apart from the obvious Manchester music reference, the coffee bar is a fitting honey-yellow.The bagels are looking big and beautiful.The diagonal floor stripes are a nod to The Hacienda nightclub. (Credit: Supplied)
Now, with the space itself spanning just 50sqm and featuring just 12 seats, not to mention fast, value-for-money food and drink, everyone can admit this isn’t necessarily the spot to sit for hours chatting with your mates over a brew.
Although Zack describes the room as “casual, cosy and full of personality” and “proper good vibes”, assuring quality at all times, they also state it is about “no faff” and the menu is made for being on the move, which is absolutely fine with us.
For instance, indie suppliers Kyoto Matcha will be chipping in with drinks and local bakery Vainllis over in Ancoats will be delivering a fresh twist on the Manchester tart, both of which are easy to order takeout and enjoy on the go.
Best of all, to mark the launch, the first 100 people through the doors on from 8am on opening Saturday, 30 August. August will not only bag a free drink, but three lucky customers will be randomly chosen to win a golden ticket, entitling them to free coffee every single day for A WHOLE YEAR.
Speaking on the impending opening just weeks after Oasis left the city, Hipps says, “Morning Glory Coffee is my love letter to Manchester. We’ve grafted for months building the space, and it’s mad to think we’re finally opening the doors.
“It’s a warm, welcoming spot with proper Manc charm, and I’m buzzing to be working alongside some of my favourite local makers. Manchester’s got one of the best food scenes in the country, and we can’t wait to shine a light on all the incredible talent out there, whilst fuelling up Manc’s one brew at a time.”
See you in the queue on Oldham Street come launch day for great coffee, Oasis in the headphones and hopefully some rare but glorious Manchester morning sun.
The Spirit of Manchester confirms bar closure as Manc hospitality takes another hit
Danny Jones
Manchester has been hit by yet another gutting hospitality closure as The Bar at The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, formerly known as Three Little Words, has confirmed they have shut down effective immediately.
The stunning spot set up as The Spirit of Manchester Distillery’s dedicated, customer-facing city centre venue and second home under the arches, opened back in 2019, offering a cocktail, gin-making and tasting experience, as well as a restaurant.
But fast forward six years, and now the once-beloved Three Little Words bar has sadly closed, largely citing the same economic pressures everyone has faced post-pandemic.
Writing an emotional farewell post on LinkedIn, Spirit of Manchester co-founder and master distiller Seb Heeley said: “This is a post I never thought I’d have to write. 9 years ago, we set out with a dream to build something that would represent the spirit of Manchester from the humble beginning in our dining room.
“We were fortunate enough that people embraced our vision, and 6 years ago we embarked on an over million pound project to bring 6 forgotten, abandoned arches beneath the iconic Manchester Central back to life to show the best the city has to offer.
“Unfortunately, COVID changed the playing field 5 years ago, and over the last 2 years, running a city centre hospitality business, we have been hit with a perfect storm of rising costs, taxes and pressure on customer wallets that has ultimately led to an unsustainable business model.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we have to close our customer-facing operation on Watson Street today. It’s the amazing team that I feel most sorry for, as it’s their commitment over the last 6 years that has made this building feel like our forever home.”
Heeley goes on to say: “If anyone on my network is looking for new recruits, I couldn’t speak highly enough of our whole team. Please get in touch with me about any opening you may have.”
Writing a further statement on the bar’s Instagram page, they described the moment as ‘heartbreaking’, adding that they “couldn’t be prouder of [their] team” and the accolades achieved over the bar’s lifespan, both as Three Little Words and in its most recent iteration.
Seb and his wife, Jen Heeley-Wiggins, say they saw the stunning Watson Street site archway as the “forever home” for the business – it’s not hard to see why.
Having also housed local culinary offerings like Etana, too, it’s sad to see such an eye-catching part of the city’s dining scene fall victim to the ongoing industry pressures and cost-of-living crisis.
Even if you’ve never been, you’ll have passed a bottle of Manchester Gin countless times. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
The pair signed off by saying: “While this is the end for our experience centre site, Manchester Gin will continue to be made in the city and hopefully enjoyed for years to come.
“Obviously, this is a difficult time for all of us, so please bear with us while we go through this transition. Thank you.” Online orders have also been briefly paused as they look to lay out clearer plans for the future, and we can only hope they come through the other side more stable.
In what has been a heartbreaking start to the week, this marks the third high-profile food and drink casualty in central Manchester alone in the space of just the last two days, with the news of Salvi’s shutting their Deansgate Square location being followed up by another NQ closure barely hours later.
Safe to say it’s more apparent than ever that our hospitality sector needs better support and fast.
The Manc -
15th January 2021 
