The scale of the harm caused by gambling in Britain could be eight times greater than previously thought, the largest ever study into the industry’s impact has found, increasing pressure on ministers to deliver promised gambling reforms.
According to the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), which surveyed almost 10,000 people, an estimated 2.5% of adults have experienced ‘problem gambling’.
That would equate to 1.3 million problem gamblers, but the report’s authors warn that there is a risk that the figures are an overestimate.
Previous surveys, conducted by telephone, had put the problem gambling rate as low as 0.3%. It was acknowledged at the time that the methodology meant this was likely to be an underestimate.
The latest research shows that more than one in forty people who gambled in the past year have suffered serious harm in their lives, such as turning to crime to fund gambling, having their relationship break up or losing their home.
Among men and young people, the percentages were even higher. More than one in 20 of 18-34 year-olds who had gambled in the past 12 months reported a serious impact on their life. Among men, 1.9% experienced a relationship breakdown, 1.9% lost something of significant financial value, such as a home, business or car, and 1.6% experienced violence or abuse. More than one in 10 of those surveyed said they had considered suicide.
Dr Matt Gaskell, a consultant psychologist who leads the NHS Northern Gambling Service, said the latest data revealed “persistent and consistent stories of people being exploited and harmed by the industry and the devastating impact on families, including children”. “Fundamental change” was needed “across the board” to tackle the problem, he tweeted.
In its manifesto, Labour pledged to reform gambling regulations and strengthen protections to reduce gambling-related harm.
The new government has already reviewed the previous government’s white paper on gambling, which was published in April 2023 but never adopted, to see what measures could be introduced quickly.
Some proposals will be brought forward by the Gambling Commission once ministers give their backing. Others will require secondary legislation, while the rest will have to wait for a Gambling Bill, meaning they will take longer.
The new gambling minister, Fiona Twycross, was appointed this week, with government insiders saying she would take a sensible approach to the need to reduce harm, while recognising that many people gamble responsibly.
Charles Ritchie, from the charity Gambling with Lives, which supports families who have lost a loved one to gambling-related suicide, said: “These figures show what many of us already knew: that the harm caused by gambling has been vastly underestimated, with millions of people in the UK affected by it. The number of people who have considered or attempted suicide confirms the appalling scale of suicides now taking place.”
Ritchie, who founded the charity with his partner Liz after their son Jack committed suicide at the age of 24 after becoming addicted to gambling in sixth form, said: “Legislation must now catch up with this reality. The new government must immediately introduce a statutory levy on gambling industry profits to pay for vital prevention and treatment, and take steps to curb gambling advertising.”
The survey was conducted via a letter inviting up to two adults in a household to participate online. Due to the stigma attached to gambling, it is thought that people are more likely to report problems using this method. The survey is published annually so that trends can be tracked over time.
The research, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research and the University of Glasgow, has been independently reviewed and approved by a professor from the London School of Economics as ‘exemplary in all respects’.
The figures show that the use of slot machines and online gambling games more often leads to gambling problems.
Problem gambling scores are calculated based on answers to nine questions, such as whether someone has wagered more than they can afford to lose and whether it has caused them health or financial problems. A score of eight or more indicates that someone has a problem with gambling.
The percentage of participants with a problem gambling severity index score of eight or higher was more than nine times higher for those who had personally taken part in betting on non-sporting events – such as slot machines – compared with those who had gambled in the past 12 months. For those who gambled on online slots, the percentage was six times higher.
Tim Miller, executive director of research and policy at the Gambling Commission, said: “One of our goals as a regulator is to ensure we collect the best possible evidence on gambling – and today’s publication is the next important step forward in our journey to create a robust source of evidence on gambling in Britain.
“The data in this report represents the first year of a new baseline against which future changes can be compared, and as such will prove invaluable in further deepening our understanding of gambling across the country.”
A spokesperson for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) seized on concerns that the new methodology could overstate the data, pointing to the commission’s guidance that it could not be used to “increase the prevalence of problem gambling across the population”.
The BGC said: “Our members are concerned that these findings may be unreliable as there is a significant risk that GSGB is overestimating gambling participation and gambling-related harm… The BGC and our members are committed to raising standards and we welcome any robust study that accurately measures gambling and gaming participation and the prevalence of problem gambling.”
Will Prochaska of the Coalition Against Gambling Ads said: “This new data, even with the caveats the industry has prompted the Gambling Commission to make, is a source of national shame.
“The government must now treat gambling as one of the greatest threats to public health in society. Anything that further liberalises or enables the gambling industry is a neglect of the government’s duty to protect its citizens. The Minister of Culture must take urgent action to limit gambling advertising and impose restrictions on the most harmful gambling products.”
A government spokesman said: “Most people gamble without problems, but we recognise the impact that harmful gambling can have on individuals and their families. As stated in the government’s manifesto, we are absolutely committed to strengthening protection for those at risk.
“The Gambling Commission’s new research helps paint a broader picture of gambling behaviour in the UK and we will consider the findings carefully.”