Is enough being done to protect young people from gambling addiction?

The ubiquity of betting advertising means temptation is everywhere. Sean T Smith takes a closer look at what exactly is being done to help those struggling with addiction

The government has been promising reform to the UK’s gambling laws since 2019 (AFP/Getty/The Independent)

Ryan’s problems with gambling coincided with the arrival of smartphones and betting apps in his late teens. Suddenly, it became possible to bet on anything, anywhere in the world with the tap of a finger.

“I’d start with South American football, switch to the NFL and then of course there’s always horse racing and online slots,” he tells me.

Although at his lowest point Ryan was losing almost £4,000 a day, he became skilled at concealing the extent of his problem from family and friends.