GambleAware commissioned Treatment and Support Survey shines light on scale of gambling harms affecting children and young people and the lasting impact ‘problem gambling’ can have

• YouGov survey shows up to an estimated 1.65m children under 18 are growing up in households where an adult is experiencing ‘problem gambling’¹. Children exposed to gambling were also found to be four times more likely to go on to experience problem gambling themselves compared to those who had never been affected by someone else’s gambling.
• The report reveals stigma, excessive gambling advertising and accessibility of gambling can all act as barriers preventing people from seeking support.
• First-of-its-kind data also shows the legacy harms of gambling - of those who used to gamble, up to 1.2m people still report the urge to do so, and 130,000 are still experiencing harms now as a result of their previous gambling².

GambleAware, the leading charity and strategic commissioner of gambling harms prevention and treatment services in Great Britain, has today published its fourth Annual Treatment and Support Survey – with new data estimating that up to 1.65 million children in Great Britain are living with someone who is experiencing problem gambling.

The report, based on an annual YouGov survey of over 18,000 people, highlights patterns related to early exposure to gambling harms. Children exposed to gambling at a young age were found to be four times more likely to go on to experience problem gambling themselves³.

Alongside continued, effective treatment, education and support, GambleAware is calling for policy changes to address the normalisation of gambling in daily life and help protect children and young people.  These include a pre-watershed ban on TV advertising, improved health warnings on all gambling advertising and a ban on gambling marketing at sporting events.

Bianca Colclough, who has lived experience of gambling harm, said:

“When I experienced gambling harm it affected all parts of my life. It wasn’t just financial, it also affected my relationships with the people around me, even my family members I was closest to. When my two children were born, I recognised how the gambling harm I had been experiencing could affect them too, which encouraged me to reach out and get support.”

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, said:

“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. I'm particularly concerned about new, easily accessible forms of gambling online that obscure the risks and the harms and are increasingly pervasive in children's lives.

“If we allow gambling to be normalised for young people through continued exposure to advertising and gambling activities in online games, we risk a long-term impact on their lives – on their mental or physical health, relationships or financial wellbeing.”

The study included first-of-its-kind data showing strong evidence of the “legacy harms” of gambling. Nearly one in five people (18%) who used to gamble (up to an estimated 1.2 million adults) reported feeling the urge to gamble again in the last six months, while 130,000 people who used to gamble said they were still experiencing harms from previous gambling. The devastating impact of gambling harm is further emphasised by data revealing two in five (44%) of those experiencing ‘problem gambling’ (PGSI 8+) were at high risk of suicidal behaviour on the Suicidal Ideation Attitributes Scale (SIDAS), which is five times the rate of the general population (8%).

To tackle gambling harm for anyone at risk of impact across Great Britain, GambleAware has reiterated its call for a robust national prevention strategy, including increased regulation on gambling advertising such as mandatory health warnings, and a public health approach that incorporates prevention, early intervention, effective treatment and aftercare.

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive, GambleAware, said:

“The figures published today in our Treatment and Support Survey highlight the impact of the normalisation of gambling across society on individuals, families and communities. The research shows a concerning link between early exposure to gambling at a younger age and the risk of harms in later life and for the first time shows the lasting impact legacy harms can have.

“Gambling harms can affect anyone, which is why it is so important that we break down the stigma associated with it and encourage people to come forward and talk about gambling harm.

“We also need to go further to protect people from experiencing gambling harms in the first place. This is why we are calling for a more strategic government led approach, greater investment in prevention and treatment programmes  to address gambling harm in Great Britain, and increased regulation of gambling advertising.”

GambleAware’s extensive research, which explores the usage of third sector commissioned advice, support and treatment services, also revealed new trends shaping the gambling harms landscape across Great Britain. Overall, figures point to steadily increasing demand for services and support, particularly amongst ‘affected others’ – people who are impacted by the gambling harm experienced by someone in their lives – which is up by a third in the past year (from 29% in 2022, to 35% in 2023).

However, persistent barriers preventing many from accessing help remain, including stigma, the normalisation of gambling through ease of access and excessive advertising.

A spokesperson from YouGov said:

“We are pleased to share the findings from the fifth annual Treatment and Support Survey. This year, the research – which included a substantial online survey of more than 18,000 people and in-depth qualitative telephone interviews - explored areas including the legacy harms of gambling, uncovering new data on the lasting impact of gambling harms on those who gamble.”

GambleAware is urging anyone who is concerned about how gambling makes them feel to search GambleAware online for advice, tools and support. Whether experiencing harm directly or as an affected other, you can reach out to the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133. It's available 24/7 and offers free, confidential advice, tools, and support.  

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Adults rated 8+ on the PGSI scale
2. Based on people rated 8+ on the PGSI scale
3. People under the age of 18 who are affected others are four times more likely to experience problem gambling (8%) than people who are not affected others (2%).

• Read the full report here.
• This report presents the findings of a study conducted in November 2023, which explored the usage of, and reported demand for, advice, support and treatment among those who gamble and those affected by another’s gambling.
• For the first time, the research included questions on former gambling to understand the experiences of people who used to gamble, including legacy harms. 
• This is an annual study, previously conducted in November 2022, November 2021, November 2020 and October 2019.
• The 2023 study consisted of an online quantitative survey of 18,178 GB adults. It also included a qualitative element, comprised of 1) 20 one-to-one depth interviews with people who gamble and 2) 10 one-to-one depth interviews with people who used to gamble and 3) two online text-based focus groups with affected others.
• A "household" is one person living alone, or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address who share cooking facilities and share a living room, sitting room or dining area. A household can consist of a single family, more than one family or no families in the case of a group of unrelated people.
• Since 2023, GambleAware has encouraged more people affected by gambling harms to seek support and open up about their gambling through national public health campaigns to tackle stigma and challenge perceptions of gambling harms.
• The Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) collects official statistics on gambling participation and harms from gambling in Great Britain. Find the latest statistics here.