Man reprimanded for lending money to gambling addicts

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by Change | 7 May 2010

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Those in need of gambling addiction help were prayed on by a London man who offered addicts cash at their lowest ebb.

A London man who prayed on those in need of gambling addiction support has been fined after his activities were picked up by Trading Standards.

Tottenham resident Tung Quan Ha offered to lend vulnerable gambling addicts money when they had run out of cash, the Haringey Independent reports.

Despite being unemployed, the 57-year-old was able to spend £113,000 at the capital's casinos during 2009, and he lent much of his winnings to those in need of gambling addiction help.

London Trading Standards raided Mr Ha's home last August and found a notebook that detailed his money-making activities.

Peter Richardson, the organisation's illegal money lending team manager, said it was "one of the worst cases" he had ever seen.

"To have a loan shark seeking out those already in a vulnerable state through gambling addiction and financial pressures is a terrible situation," he told the newspaper.

Mr Ha was fined £8,000 and ordered to hand over £12,200 of the money he has made.

Speaking to the London Evening Standard this week, detox addiction centre founder Johnny Graaf said that gambling addiction can be particularly difficult to treat in London because of the "workaholic" nature of the capital.

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