1.6 million children living with adults who are problem gamblers, report shows

Around 1.6 million children in the UK are living in a household where an adult is experiencing problem gambling, according to a new report.

The shocking figures are laid bare in charity GambleAware's annual Treatment and Support Survey, which looks at the use of, and demand for, advice and treatment.

Data obtained from the study also shows that close to half (44%) of those experiencing "problem gambling" were at high risk of suicidal behaviour.

And it suggested increasing demand for services and support around gambling amongst "affected others", with numbers rising from 29% in 2022 to 35% in 2023.

GambleAware has called for a pre-watershed ban on TV gambling adverts, improved health warnings on gambling products, and a ban on gambling marketing at sporting events.

Zoe Osmond, chief executive of GambleAware, said the figures highlighted "the impact of the normalisation of gambling across society on individuals, families and communities".

She said: "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."

CARE has stressed the need for significant gambling reforms, including a robust levy on betting industry profits. Earlier this year, CARE's gambling policy lead Tim Cairns said:

“The government must outline a range of substantive measures that confront gambling harms. Big gambling has spent 20 years making its product more addictive, easier to play, and available 24/7 whilst ignoring pleas from suffering individuals. This has led to endemic levels of problem gambling. If gamblers are to be kept safe, advertising needs to be cut and the gambling industry needs to be placed under a levy that is sufficient to properly meet the public health crisis it has inspired. At least five per cent of industry profits.

“The government propose a levy of 1% for online gambling and 0.4% for traditional high street bookies and casinos. Gambling companies make almost £15 Billion per year from British punters, so the Government’s proposed levy would bring in about £100 million. It is estimated that the average cost of treatment for a person with a gambling disorder is just over £600. Britain has around 400,000 people who need treatment, making the annual cost of treatment in excess of £240 million. It is clear this proposal falls far short of a fair share of gambling profits.

“We need a substantial compulsory levy to be placed on gambling companies. Money from this can go to treatment services that free people from the chains of addiction, but also into the crucial areas of research and prevention. The proposed levy simply isn’t enough to tackle the problem. We believe a 5% levy is required to match the scale of gambling harms. This levy would come far closer to meeting the desperate needs of vulnerable Brits affected by problem gambling. Big betting has caused the problems we are seeing in society, and it is time it was forced to take responsibility."