Readers' reactions

Last month in The THES...

Sue Fisher called for an immediate end to the deregulation of gambling

Mark Griffiths

Head of psychology

Nottingham Trent University

Sue Fisher's plea was timely. Steps particularly need to be taken to counteract adolescent gambling. Research has consistently shown that the younger a child starts to gamble, the more likely they are to develop

problems.

My own measures would include:

The raising of the minimum age of all forms of commercial gambling to 18 years

The imposition of much stricter penalties on retailers who allow children to gamble

The restriction of television gambling advertising until after the 9pm watershed

The creation of a gambling tax levy to provide money for charities that give advice, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation for people with gambling problems and

A single government department (rather than the current three) to oversee all gambling legislation.