GambleAware claims over 5m brits want to reduce or quit gambling
The charity has published its annual gambling Treatment & Support survey.
UK. The responsible gambling charity GambleAware has estimated that over five million people in Britain want to reduce or quit gambling, and three quarters of these (3.9 million) want to do so despite not experiencing problem gambling. That’s according to GambleAware’s annual Treatment & Support survey, conducted by YouGov.
The study highlights that three in 10 young adults (aged 18-34) who gamble are keen to reduce or quit their gambling. However, the headline claims have been questioned, with some suggesting that the results were extrapolated very loosely.
The survey also found that 80 per cent of the 17,933 respondents who gambled in the last 12 months were happy with their gambling habits. Some 44 per cent said they saw no need to reduce or quit gambling as they had not experienced negative consequences.
“The qualitative data shows that the main reasons for participants not wanting to make changes to their gambling were because they felt that their gambling was under control, or because they perceived it as a fun activity and enjoyed the occasional wins, alongside the potential of ‘a big win’,” the report says, adding that this was “even the case among those who had previously experienced ‘problem gambling’, where people preferred having clear limits and better control over how much they gamble, as opposed to wanting to reduce or stop altogether.”
However, GambleAware says the study shows that a significant number of people are open to seeking avenues to reduce their gambling, highlighting the critical role that early intervention and support tools can play to support people.
The charity noted the role of its national prevention programme. It said its service finder, launched in July last year, has already helped over 42,000 people search for support, resulting in over 13,000 referral clicks to support providers, including those within the National Gambling Support Network. The Network, which is made up of 13 providers, was launched in April 2023 and offers services that focus on prevention, treatment, and post care recovery.
Transition chief executive of GambleAware Anna Hargrave said: “Five million people want to reduce or quit their gambling, which highlights just how much our tools and services are needed, as well as those that sit within the National Gambling Support Network. However gambling is making you feel, there is help available.”
New resources
GambleAware this week released new tools designed to support therapists and practitioners working with people who experience gambling harms and neurodivergence. The move, announced during UK Safer Gambling Week, comes as new research shows that some neurodivergent people, such as those with ADHD or autism, may have an increased likelihood of experiencing gambling harms.
The resources commissioned by GambleAware have been designed to enable therapists and practitioners to improve the support they provide for clients, so that they can get tailored support. The resources, created by IFF Research and Ara Recovery for All, include training materials, toolkits, and case studies designed to build confidence, reduce barriers and promote inclusive support.
Call for reforms
Earlier this month, GambleAware published a report that calls for major reforms to the regulations for gambling ads in the UK. The study finds that children and young people are regularly exposed to gambling on online platforms and that the current rules for gambling marketing and content online “do not reflect the unique challenges presented by the digital age.”
The paper calls for the government to align online safety powers, increase action against online platforms and establish a government taskforce to explore targeted policies.
GambleAware will cease operations by March 2026 due to the implementation of a mandatory gambling levy in Britain. The funds from the new levy are administered by the Gambling Commission and the NHS, which replace GambleAware’s role as the steward of voluntary donations from the gambling industry.
