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Gambling addiction to be studied in schools

2007-07-31 15:34:17

Students in Britain may soon be learning about gambling addiction and its underlying psychology, it has emerged.

Plans to introduce the topic at A-Level have been put forward by OCR - a UK awarding body - and it could be offer on from September next year.

The proposed course is based on a study by Professor Mark Griffiths at Nottingham Trent University who studied the way some addicts talked to fruit machines.

"Today's students need to learn about the application of psychology in real-world situations," he remarked.

"Against a backdrop of gambling liberalisation and deregulation, gambling addiction looks set to increase and educating students about gambling behaviour will be of real interest."

The OCR's proposal comes weeks after prime minister Gordon Brown made it clear that the government was withdrawing its support of a new supercasino in Manchester, which would have included 1,250 unlimited-jackpot fruit machines.