Understanding the risks of gambling
Gambling harms can be anything that negatively impacts the life of the person gambling, or the lives of those around them. When gambling harms people who gamble, it can also be known as ‘problem gambling’, or ‘gambling addiction’.
Gambling harms can take many forms, including:
Gambling can grip anyone, and the harms that it causes are more common than people think. While they may not present as physical symptoms in the same way that other public health issues do, they can be equally detrimental to a person’s wellbeing.
Gambling harms can be hard to spot, so understanding the signs is an important step towards getting the right support.
If you’re still not sure if you’re experiencing gambling harms our self-assessment can help you understand how gambling might be impacting your life. Once complete, you will be offered tailored support should you want it.
Some types of gambling are riskier than others. Studies have shown those that are more accessible and have certain design features (for example faster play speeds) are harder for people to keep track of. This makes it more likely that people using them could experience negative consequences.
In general, lotteries are less likely to be associated with harm whilst gambling games are more commonly associated with harms. Betting is somewhere in the middle.
It can be useful to know some examples of the relative risk of specific gambling products.
Statistics show football betting is one of the most popular types of gambling in Great Britain. However, almost 1 in 10 people taking part in this type of gambling are experiencing ‘problem gambling’. This is higher than on average.1
Live betting, also known as in-play betting, has been shown to be particularly harmful because of the variety of potential bets and fast-changing nature of odds. These can easily distract individuals from the world around them.2
Statistics show almost one in five people who have used online casino or instant win games in the last year are experiencing ‘problem gambling’.1
Their repetitive, fast-paced nature and quick outcomes make it easy to spend a lot of time and money without meaning to.
Physical gaming machines are used less often than online games, but they are heavily linked to gambling harms. Around half of those who have used gaming machines in a bookmakers in the last year are experiencing ‘problem gambling’. This makes it the most harmful type of gambling product available.1
Scratch cards are also a commonly used form of gambling but have a higher-than-average rate of gambling harm. As many as one in 16 people who use them experience ‘problem gambling’.1
Research has found that the public feels they are one of the most addictive gambling products on the market.3
If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s gambling, we have lots of support to help you.
Read our:
If you or someone you care about needs support, the National Gambling Support Network can help. They offer treatment, advice and support for people affected by gambling. All their services are free, non-judgemental and confidential.
Unfortunately, this service is for UK residents only. You can find out more about international support here.