A UK newspaper recently ran a report in which the Conservative Party slammed the current Brown government for not doing enough to stem problem gambling. According to the report in the Conservative-leaning Daily Mail, over 284,000 people in the UK share a total debt of $7 billion – around $25,000 per person - caused by problem gambling.

“The government has shown a complete lack of leadership and has shamefully and irresponsibly turned a blind eye to the level of debt racked up by gamblers”, said the cultural spokesman for the Conservatives, Jeremy Hunt said. “It is deeply concerning, especially at a time when people are struggling to cope with the economic downturn, that vulnerable people are drowning in huge gambling debts. The government must take problem gambling addiction seriously.”