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<p>Gambling-related harm impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across
the country. Of particular concern is the 55,000 children classified as problem gamblers
in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>The Church of England and the bishops in the House
of Lords have regularly raised this issue with the Government, charities and the industry
itself.</p><p> </p><p>The Bishop of St Albans successfully campaigned with others
to reduce the stake on fixed-odds betting terminals in Great Britain and tabled an
amendment to the Northern Ireland Executive (Formation) Bill 2019 to ask the Government
to report on the case for legislative and regulatory alignment between Great Britain
and Northern Ireland. The Government accepted this amendment.</p><p> </p><p>The Bishop
of St Albans also sponsored a motion for debate in the General Synod of the Church
of England, which was passed at the February 2019 session. He also successfully balloted
for the House of Lords to establish the Select Committee on the Social and Economic
Impact of the Gambling Industry. The Committee Inquiry is underway and is expected
to report between March and April 2020.</p>
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