1.6 Million Children are Living With 'Problem Gambling' Adults

A new report has found that approximately 1.6 million children in the UK are growing up in households where an adult is experiencing problem gambling.

The annual Treatment and Support Survey by the charity GambleAware (carried out in November 2023) reported the findings. It focused on those who gamble and others affected by individuals who gamble. The findings are a concern, especially as children who are exposed to gambling are four times more likely to have gambling issues at some point later on.

Former problem gambling

The report included one-on-one interviews with current and former gamblers, results from online focus groups, and data from a YouGov survey of over 18,000 adults in the UK.  It also included questions on former gambling for the first time to try and understand past gambling experiences.

Gambling harms can affect anyone

Chief Executive of GambleAware, Zoe Osmond said the findings showed: 'The impact of the normalisation of gambling across society on individuals, families and communities' and highlighted a worrying connection between exposure to gambling at a young age and the risk of gambling harms in later life.

She added: '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, that includes increased regulation of gambling advertising.'

The urge to gamble

The survey results also showed that up to 130,000 ex-gamblers said they were still experiencing gambling harms from previous gambling. In addition, an estimated 1.2 million adults who were once gamblers said that in the last six months, they felt the urge to gamble again.

And it's hugely concerning that 44% of those experiencing problem gambling were at high risk of suicidal behaviour.

Demand for support

Demand for support for problem gambling or gambling harms has increased since 2022. In the recent survey, 35% of those affected by other peoples' gambling looked for support or services compared to 29% in 2022. However, those who aren't seeking support said it was because of the impact of the cost of living crisis, among other reasons.  

Public health issue

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, said the increasing recognition of gambling harms is a serious public health issue. She said: '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.'

It's not all bad news

In light of the findings, not all gambling activity leads to problem gambling. A Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) spokesman said: “BGC members voluntarily donated over £170 million over the past four years to independent research, prevention and treatment services to tackle problem gambling and gambling-related harm.

'Each month around 22.5 million people in Britain enjoy a bet and the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly.

'The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.'

Need more information? For help with gambling concerns, visit gamstop.co.uk, call the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 802 0133, or read our responsible gambling guides.