• IT’S official, gambling is a public health issue. This week it was announced that one special clinic of the National Health Service will be set up to deal with young gamblers with addiction problems, particularly from computer games.

As regular readers will know I’ve been scribbling warnings about this for years. But one NHS clinic will not deal with the issue that can cover two million problem gamblers and 500.000 addicts. It fools the gambling industry and politicians into thinking they are doing something when they are just papering over the cracks.

Not until a wealthy industry pays for the crisis we are in, and they benefit in terms of billions annually, and all advertising is banned will we start to see a change. We deserve better than plasters over an obvious gaping wound.

PATRICK EDLIN