The charity GambleAware has published today, 21 August, its Annual Treatment and Support Survey focused on the scale of gambling harms affecting children and the enduring impact of problem gambling on former gamblers. The research, conducted by YouGov, estimates that up to 1.65 million children in Great Britain are living in households where an adult is struggling with problem gambling.
Children at risk
The survey, which included responses from over 18,000 participants in Great Britain reveals that children exposed to gambling in their homes are four times more likely to develop gambling problems themselves in the future. According to the survey, this comes from early exposure to gambling, coupled with the normalisation of gambling through advertising and accessibility.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, reacted to GambleAware’s publication: “I welcome the increasing recognition of the harms caused by gambling as a public health issue and a serious one. GambleAware’s latest report demonstrates that there are millions who are at risk and that more needs to be done to protect them. As Children’s Commissioner, I want to see far more attention given to the impact of gambling on children and young people.”
Widespread gambling participation
The survey found that 61 percent of adults in Great Britain engaged in some form of gambling in the past year, equating to approximately 31.4 million people. In the last four weeks alone, 47 percent of adults (about 24.2 million) reported participating in gambling activities. There has been a slight increase in the participation rates for certain gambling activities such as scratch cards and online football betting. This shift away from lottery-based gambling towards activities with higher problem gambling rates is judged concerning by GambleAware.
Problem gambling and legacy harms
Approximately 13.1 percent of adults in Great Britain, or around 6.8 million people, were classified as experiencing some level of gambling problems. This figure is consistent with the previous year’s data. Of these, 7 percent experienced low levels of problems, 3.5 percent had moderate issues, and 2.9 percent were classified as experiencing ‘problem gambling’ with severe issues.
The survey also focused on the legacy impacts of gambling. Among those who used to gamble, about 15.3 percent had experienced gambling issues in the past, with a higher incidence of current problems among those with a history of moderate to severe gambling issues. Nearly 18 percent of former gamblers reported feeling the urge to gamble again in the past six months.
The data points to the enduring nature of gambling harms, with over half of those who previously faced moderate problems still experiencing related issues.
The cost-of-living crisis has had a complex impact on gambling behaviours. While some individuals have increased their gambling as a result of financial stress, others report a reduction in gambling activity. The crisis has heightened the financial strain for many, exacerbating the issues for those with severe gambling problems.
Demand for support
Despite the significant number of individuals affected by gambling harms, only 23 percent of those with gambling problems sought treatment or support in the past year. Among those classified with severe problems, this figure was higher at 65 percent. The majority of individuals who sought help did so through a combination of family support, self-exclusion, and professional counseling.
However, barriers to accessing support remain, including stigma and the overwhelming presence of gambling advertising. Many individuals feel their gambling is under control or are deterred from seeking help due to embarrassment or disbelief that their situation is problematic, states the survey.
Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, declared: “The figures published today highlight the broad impact of gambling on individuals and families. We need more investment in prevention and treatment programmes and stronger regulations to address gambling harms effectively.”
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