Current drug use or past drug abuse. Dishonorable discharge from military service. Bad credit history. History of domestic violence.

No they can’t. And it is not about that they are in uniform or not or they are drinking in a public place or not. Even if they are in civil dress up, they cannot drink alcohol if they are On-duty anywhere either it is public place or their well parked car.

Actually, no. Under the old 1964 Licensing Act licensees had a duty to refuse to serve any kind of refreshment to “a constable in uniform unless with the permission of his superior officer”, but that law has now been replaced by the 2003 Licensing Act, which contains no such duty.

Many departments have loosened their requirements as a result of shortages in officers and applicants. Having a history of drug use does not mean that one cannot become a police officer. People with substance use in their history, however, have to be realistic about the possibility of becoming a police officer.

Home Office guidance on ‘Police officer misconduct, unsatisfactory performance and attendance management procedures’ states: “Police officers do not purchase or consume alcohol when on duty, unless specifically authorised to do so, or it becomes necessary for the proper discharge of a particular police duty.”

The gaming law of May 1999 formally forbids any serving police officer from entering a casino, betting office of gaming arcade other than on official duty.

The short answer is no, but it is a bit more complex than that. There are steps that problem gamblers can take to stop themselves from being able to access their accounts and therefore gamble. In instances where that is the case, problem gamblers have been able to get the money back that they’ve lost.

Help for problem gamblers Treatment and support groups are available for people who want to stop gambling: GamCare GamCare offers free information, support and counselling for problem gamblers in the UK. It runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and also offers face-to-face counselling.

There are steps you can take to minimize your losses moving forward.

1. Take a Break from Gambling.
2. Figure Out Your Budget.
3. Rethinking Your Gambling Habits.
4. Establish Goals for Winning and Losing.
5. If You Think You Have a Severe Gambling Problem.

Mental health disorders. People who gamble compulsively often have substance abuse problems, personality disorders, depression or anxiety. Compulsive gambling may also be associated with bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

5 OF THE GREATEST GAMBLING LOSSES IN HISTORY

• MAUREEN O’CONNOR: $13 MILLION.
• HARRY KAKAVAS: $20.5 MILLION.
• CHARLES BARKLEY: $30 MILLION.
• ARCHIE KARAS: $40 MILLION.
• TERRANCE WATANABE: $127 MILLION.