Betting shops in Swansea have become the latest target for Trading Standards in a bid to prevent people under 18 gambling.
Swansea Council’s Trading Standards has teamed up with the Gambling Commission after the city was selected as part of a nationwide survey.
The aim is to assess what measures are in place at local betting shops to stop underage people using them.
So far, 160 betting shops across the five major betting operators in England and Wales have been visited as part of the survey.
The result of the test purchasing exercise show a vast improvement on a similar exercise undertaken in May this year when virtually all the shops visited allowed a person under 18 to use the service.
65 percent of the 160 shops visited throughout the UK prevented the underage person from placing a bet at the counter.
In Swansea, 11 betting shops were visited and four of them allowed bets to underage people.
John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Gambling Commission and use the expertise of our Officers in controlling substances and services that are age restricted.
“It is pleasing that the number challenges made to people under 18 when attempting to place a bet has increased with the result that fewer illegal bets were placed.”
The results for tests at smaller local betting shops outside of the five major operators were less positive and showed that only 35 percent of smaller businesses visited prevented someone under 18 betting at the counter
Cllr Hague added: “Our aim is to ensure that all premises licensed for gambling purposes in Swansea are managed effectively by the licence holders.”
Nick Tofiluk, The Gambling Commission’s Director of Regulation, said: “This exercise is a good example of successful co-regulation in action. Young people under 18 are not permitted to gamble and there must be no let-up in the effort of gambling operators to improve their controls.
“As co-regulators of gambling, the Commission and Swansea Council will continue to work closely together to ensure gambling is fair and safe.”
The total number of betting shops visited belonging to the major five operators was 160. These can be broken down as follows.
Organisation Number of betting shops visited
- Ladbrokes- 39
- William Hill- 40
- Tote- 19
- Betfred- 25
- Gala Coral- 37
Perecentage that prevented a young person under 18 from placing a bet
- Ladbrokes- 74%
- William Hill- 68%
- Tote- 63%
- Betfred- 60%
- Gala Coral- 57%
