JERSEY and Guernsey are reviewing whether it is appropriate for £10 scratch cards to continue to be sold by the Channel Islands Lottery amid concerns about the role they might be playing in fuelling gambling addiction.
In the States this week, Deputy Steve Ahier asked Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel whether it was “appropriate” for the cards to continue to be sold, pointing out that, in 2019, the operator of the UK National Lottery stopped selling £10 cards after the Gambling Commission said such games “overindex the most problem gamblers”.
Deputy Morel said a review in Jersey and Guernsey was under way into the Channel Islands Lottery, whose contract is up for renewal in 2027. He explained that this would include consideration of the £10 tickets.
He added: “A safer gambling campaign to promote responsible play and awareness of the services and help available to problem gamblers will be launched this year.”
However, Deputy Ahier pressed the minister and asked if he would follow Camelot’s lead and withdraw the £10 cards at the earliest opportunity. Camelot, which runs the National Lottery, made the decision to do so in 2019 due to what they described as “player protection considerations”.
In response, Deputy Morel reiterated the review was ongoing.
Deputy Ahier’s concerns come after a recent piece of public health research in Guernsey highlighted issues around the level of problem gambling in the island, and in particular the use of scratch cards.
The report, which was published in January, revealed that the island had higher rates of gambling than other jurisdictions.
The pre-pandemic Health Impact Assessment also found that The Channel Islands Christmas Lottery had the highest gambling activity, with 67.5% of respondents taking part, and that some under-18s were illegally using the cards.
The second-highest gambling activity was the purchase of scratch cards.
In total, 46.3% had purchased scratch cards in Guernsey, compared to 29.3% in Isle of Man and 21% in Great Britain.
Scratch card use was found to be associated – more than any other gambling activity – with poor health indicators.
This included poor general health, low mental wellbeing, living with excess weight/obesity, regular GP visits, mental-health/counselling service attendance, poor diet, smoking, financial problems and an increased risk of violence.
During the States sitting, questions were also posed to the minister about potential purchase limits for scratch cards.
Deputy Alex Curtis noted that the Jersey Gambling Commission has a code of practice on maximum stakes and maximum repeated uses on gaming machines, and asked whether there were similar regulations for scratch cards.
The minister said he was unaware of similar rules for scratch cards.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf also raised concerns that the charity fundraising element could be “blinding people to the potential risks of gambling” after Deputy Morel said that over £1 million in lottery proceeds was distributed locally last year.
Figures on a flutter
In 2023, more than half of all CI lottery sales came from £10 games.
£10 sales were up by 22% in Guernsey last year when compared to 2022.
Total lottery sales, including the Christmas draw, were £24.51m across the islands.
In 2023, £9.26 million was spent on scratch cards in Jersey.
