A fresh investigation by GambleAware, the UK’s gambling awareness organization, and YouGov has uncovered that less than 1% of individuals identified as problematic gamblers in the UK have utilized the nation’s national gambling treatment services.
The poll, the third in a sequence following surveys in 2019 and 2020, was conducted through YouGov’s online survey platform and questioned 18,038 adults. Information was adjusted by age, gender, UK region, NRS social grade and ethnic group.
The research found that 59% of adults in the UK – 30.5 million individuals – had engaged in gambling in the past 12 months.
Researchers noted that this signifies an increase in the proportion of adults participating in gambling since the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, rising from 56% in 2020 to 59%.
The National Lottery was the most popular form of gambling, with 44% of respondents stating they had participated, up from 41% the previous year. Scratchcards followed closely behind at 16.9%, with other lotteries coming in third but with a slight decrease in participation to 13.8%.
Meanwhile, online sports betting participation increased to 11.8% in 2021, while retail sports betting participation increased to 3.2%.
Participation in online casino games rose from 3.6% in 2020 to 4.1% in 2021.
The survey also discovered that 12…
The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) revealed that a small but statistically significant increase, compared to 2020, occurred with 7% of adults scoring at least one point.
This figure breaks down to 7% of adults being classified as low-risk gamblers, while 2.9% were categorized as moderate-risk gamblers. Meanwhile, 2.8% of adults, roughly 1.4 million people, were classified as problem gamblers. This percentage is higher than the 2.4% recorded in the previous year.
This figure is considerably higher than the total recorded in the Gambling Commission’s quarterly survey, which recently indicated that only 0.3% of the population could be categorized as problem gamblers. This is also higher than the English Public Health Surveys in 2016 and 2018.
This pattern is consistent in all three instances of the GambleAware/YouGov study.
Following the initial study, the charity expressed concern about the true extent of problem gambling in the UK. As a result, GambleAware commissioned research into the issue in 2021, discovering that online surveys, such as the one they conducted, face a “particular risk” of selection bias. This bias, if not properly addressed, could potentially inflate the number of individuals affected.
The 2021 study also discovered that men, young people, individuals in a wide range of “manual” occupations, and ethnic minorities had higher rates of harm, with 7.1% of those aged 18-24 being classified as problem gamblers.
Outside of those directly impacted by their own wagering, 6% of adults, mainly females, are categorized as “affected,” signifying they are negatively influenced by the gambling actions of others. This percentage is comparable to 2020.
Dr. Hilary Jones, a public health personality on television, stated that evaluating the extent of gambling damage can be challenging and urged those affected to seek assistance.
“Despite affecting a substantial number of individuals, gambling harm is frequently disregarded and underestimated,” Jones remarked. “This is partially due to the fact that the impact of harmful gambling on people’s lives is incredibly varied, intricate, and often concealed.
“As one of an estimated 1.4 million individuals impacted by gambling harm, you might be experiencing numerous adverse consequences beyond financial indebtedness, encompassing mental and physical well-being.”
Of those with gambling problems, 64% utilized some form of treatment, guidance, or support, while 34% did not.
Simultaneously, 15% of moderate-risk gamblers and 4% of low-risk gamblers also sought assistance.
Nevertheless, GambleAware observed that only 8,490 individuals received aid from the National Gambling Treatment Service in 2021. It indicated that for every person seeking support who has experienced gambling harm, “there might be as many as 160 others who could benefit but are not obtaining the help they require.”
Zoe Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, reminded those affected that treatment services are accessible to anyone in need of assistance.
For a considerable period, the National Gambling Treatment Service has collaborated with the National Health Service and other entities to furnish complimentary, private, efficient, and readily available assistance. She stated, “Although we have aided over two hundred thousand individuals in acquiring the necessary support during the past six years, we recognize that numerous others require assistance.”
“Our message to anyone battling or worried about a cherished one is that you are not alone. If you discover that gambling is consuming an excessive portion of your life, kindly contact the helpline or utilize the online chat, both accessible around the clock, and converse with a specialist.”
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