Proportion of people struggling with online gambling hits five-year high

The percentage of those who called the National Gambling Helpline so far this year for help with online gambling has risen to the highest rate since 2021, with four out of five citing online gambling specifically.

The charity GamCare, who operate the National Gambling Helpline, have found that 82% of callers to the helpline with gambling problems have issues with online gambling. This is the highest rate since the end of the pandemic, when lockdown restrictions limited access to physical gambling locations. In contrast, those expressing struggles with in-person gambling dropped to 36%, the lowest rate since 2021.

GamCare have also warned that people, especially young adults, could be at increased risk of gambling harm as the football World Cup starts this week. Following the last World Cup in 2022, the charity reported seeing an 11% increase month-on-month in calls and messages from those struggling with gambling.

A recent YouGov survey found that young adults are especially vulnerable to gambling during the World Cup. 32% of adults between 18 and 24, who had placed a bet on the Euros or World Cup in the past, say they find it difficult to avoid gambling during major international tournaments. Moreover, 30% of young adults who had bet on major events said they continued to gamble afterwards, often engaging with higher-risk forms such as online casinos.

Victoria Corbishley, Chief Executive Officer for GamCare, said: “We typically see more requests for help and support during major sporting tournaments, and the World Cup could be particularly problematic for those struggling with online gambling. Many people who come to our services began by betting on sports before developing patterns of gambling that became harmful, and the data shows young adults could be particularly vulnerable this summer.”

If someone is struggling with gambling, they can contact the National Gambling Helpline for free on 0808 8020133, or can make contact via WhatsApp or online chat at any time.