CALLS for a specialised service to help Islanders avoid the potentially “ruinous” consequences of gambling addiction have been renewed by the former chair of the Jersey Gambling Commission.
Cyril Whelan said that such a resource, ideally funded by the Health Department and “preferably on-Island”, was “vitally necessary”.
His comments come after the Commission’s 2025 annual report, published last month, raised concerns about the limited support available locally.
Health Minister Tom Binet subsequently said that work was under way to raise awareness of where people could seek help, but did not announce any new gambling-specific services.
Speaking to the JEP, Mr Whelan said: “We have tried to get a dialogue going, which would have a specific outcome, like a recognisable, preferably on-island gambling treatment resource. But we never got there,” though he added that “we got very close at one point.
“It’s still vitally necessary and it’s something still to be achieved.”
Mr Whelan noted that he did not want to be “critical of Health”, highlighting the department’s “huge job” and “acute budgetary needs”.
“One understands that perfectly, and I suppose it’s fair to say that the cohort of people needing specific help with gambling is going to be pretty small. But nevertheless, in individual cases, it can be ruinous,” he said.
“The ideal version of it would be a dedicated psychiatric worker based in Jersey, funded by Health, with specific, detailed knowledge of that very problem.
“Not a generalist, but a clinical specialist.”
Mr Whelan was chair of the Jersey Gambling Commission for around ten years.
