The UK's gambling bill reaches the committee stage in the House of the Lords on Thursday 10th March. Many anticipate that the government is very likely to go ahead with the bill and add it to the statute book. Churches and charities, however, are very concerned that it will put children and many other vulnerable people at a greater risk of developing a gambling problem.

The Methodist Church, Salvation Army and National Children’s Home (NCH) have staged a nationwide signing petition to persuade the government to make last-minute changes to the bill. On a press release, the Methodist Church said in just five days, more than 35,000 people have signed the petition and the number of signatures continues to rise.

"The response from the public has been overwhelming. To get this number of responses in such a short space of time indicates the strength of feeling on this issue, which frankly the Government seems to have underestimated," commented Jonathan Lomax from The Salvation Army.

"The Government has clearly said that children and gambling don’t mix, yet they still will not act to ensure that children are adequately protected from the dangers posed by gambling on category D fruit machines."

The petition has drawn the support of churches from all denominations across the UK. In Colchester, Father John Stather, of St James the Great, Deacon Jane Mason, of Colchester Methodist Church, the Rev Catherine Bowstead, of Castle and Highwoods Methodist Churches, the Rev Ken Forbes, of Lion Walk United Reformed Church and the Rev Fred Woods, of St Botolph's and St Peters Anglican Churches, signed the petition asking for an amendment of the Gambling Bill.

Bob Finch, secretary of Churches Together in Colchester, said, "Since showing people the petition, it has become quite clear to me that people don't like the idea of small children starting their gambling life at such a young age. I appreciate the fact that these aren't high powered machines, but they are the beginning of something that can be addictive and destructive."

Churches and charities challenged a number of points on the bill. First of all, whilst they welcomed the government’s decision to remove fruit-machines from unlicensed venues, they suggested that by allowing children to play on these fruit-machines, which have comparatively low stakes and prizes, the risk of problem gambling among adolescents still exists.

Rachel Lampard, from the Methodist Church said, "The Government has made some welcome moves to protect children from gambling, but whilst children are still allowed to gamble on fruit machines they will remain at greater danger of developing a gambling problem."

"Problem gambling in children often results in truancy, criminal records, problems at school and family breakdown - all problems which can permanently damage a child’s growth and development. This is a serious child protection issue that Government needs to recognise and act upon."

The Churches also pointed out that Britain remains the only country in the developed world that allows children to gamble. According to an NOP poll, 82% of respondents said that children and young people should not be allowed to gamble on fruit machines.

The government was criticised for understating the problem of adolescent gambling in the UK by the churches as well. Academics suggest that around 5% of British adolescents can be classified as "problem gamblers" - more than five times the adult prevalence of problem gambling.

The Salvation Army and the Methodist Church have been campaigning on the gambling bill for more than 18 months for greater measures to protect children and vulnerable people.