CASINOS and bookmakers should pay for gambling addicts to be treated on the NHS, experts said today.
The gaming industry was urged to hand over up to £10million a year to fund NHS treatment services to prevent an "epidemic"
of problem gamblers.
GPs need to be given training to spot the signs of gambling addiction and the Government must back prevention initiatives to avoid a massive increase in addicts.
The warning was given by the medical profession, which fears the UK's 300,000 problem gamblers will rise as gambling becomes more socially acceptable.
Dr Gerda Reith, a Scots expert in gambling addiction, said: "Many people are simply not aware of the risks gambling can pose."
A report by the British Medical Association said the NHS was poorly equipped to counsel addicts and had "almost no treatment services".
A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "There are a range of support services for people who have behavioural or mental health issues."
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