Gambling firms must not use the restarting of the football season as an excuse to ‘open the floodgates of addiction’, an NHS boss has warned.
Claire Murdoch, the mental health director at NHS England, is concerned that the industry will launch ‘aggressive’ advertising campaigns to claw back the millions of pounds lost during lockdown.
She is worried that the restarting of the Premier League today followed by the Championship on Saturday will lead to thousands of people picking up their old gambling habits or becoming hooked for the first time.
Mrs Murdoch believes the largest firms will launch mass advertising campaigns on social media.