Bereaved parents urge MLAs to update outdated gambling laws to save lives
Charity Gambling with Lives are calling for urgent reform.
Bereaved parents have met politicians at Stormont, to call for urgent reform of old-fashioned gambling laws, which they say have been made obsolete by online betting and 24/7 mobile access.
Sadie and Peter Keogh lost their son Lewis to suicide in 2013, and it then emerged that he had a crippling gambling addiction and was £50,000 in debt.
They are now campaigning for change, to ensure the same tragedy does not arrive at another family's door - and dedicated health services, and betting companies taking greater responsibility are among the ways they believe risk will reduce.
They want doctors to be able to screen patients for gambling addiction, and they want it integrated into education in schools, in order to save lives.
The return of power-sharing means politicians have the opportunity to reform the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (NI) Order of 1985, but a consultation on reform is under way and closes on Friday.
Campaigners believe it has been completely superseded by the explosion of online gambling, which now means addictive casino-style games and relentless high-speed sports gambling are available morning, noon and night via a mobile phone.
"The internet wasn't even available in 1985, and the maximum bet available was 30 pence", Peter told Downtown Cool FM news.
Research shows there are between 250 and 650 suicides across the UK every year linked to gambling disorder - and addicts are 15 times more likely to take their own lives than the general population.
And Sadie says there'little or no help' for those people. "We want to change the laws and get the NHS involved, so that GPs and staff are aware that this is a serious condition that actually leads to death."
The charity is calling for a clear health warning of the risk to life from gambling disorder and specialist evidence-based treatment from health trusts for this life-threatening psychiatric illness.
Peter agrees - he added that doctors should be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of gambling addicts, as his son had very high blood pressure resulting from the stress of the vice. He said: "I don't blame the doctor for not recognising that Lewis's hypertension came from the stress of gambling, but I do blame the system for not training them."