GambleAware study: 1.6 million UK children live in households with gambling problems
Date: 2024-08-21 Author: Alex Crawford Categories: EVENTS
Leading gambling prevention and treatment charity GambleAware has published its latest annual Treatment and Support Report, which sheds light on how gambling can negatively impact children and young people. The fourth study to find out, around 1.65 million children in the UK live in households where someone has a gambling problem.
GambleAware explained that the research was based on 18,000 responses collected as part of an annual survey conducted by YouGov. The findings highlight the dangers of early exposure to gambling. As well as 1.65 million children being exposed to gambling from an early age, the study found that these children are four times more likely to become problem gamblers as adults.
Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, spoke out on the issue, saying that recognising gambling harm as a serious public health issue was an important step forward. She said: "The GambleAware report shows that millions of people are at risk and more needs to be done to protect them." De Souza also highlighted the need to research the impact of gambling on children and young people.
De Souza also expressed concern about the growing risks associated with online gambling. She said: "If we continue to normalise gambling for young people through advertising and gambling elements in online games, this could have a long-term negative impact on their lives, including their mental and physical health, relationships and financial wellbeing."
The Importance of Banning Gambling Advertising
GambleAware CEO Zoe Osmond echoed de Souza’s concerns, stressing that the latest report’s findings “highlight the impact that the normalisation of gambling has on society, affecting individuals, families and communities.”
Osmond also noted that the findings of the GambleAware Treatment and Support Report reiterate a worrying trend: that early exposure to gambling increases the risk of developing a problem later in life. “Gambling harm can affect anyone, so it’s important to break down the stigma around the problem and encourage people to talk about it,” Osmond added.
In response to the new research, GambleAware has renewed calls for a national prevention strategy that includes stronger regulation of gambling advertising, such as mandatory health warnings, and a comprehensive public health approach that includes prevention, early intervention, effective treatment and aftercare support.
The organisation says banning gambling advertising could significantly reduce gambling harm and addiction, while improved warnings could help raise awareness of the problem.
