New Survey – 66% of British Adults Not Getting Gambling Help Due to Stigma

Stigma of seeking help for problem gambling affects 66% of adults. However, UK still has only around 100k problem gamblers officially! (Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash)

GambleAware, an independent charity organisation, has recently commissioned a survey that looked into the number of British adults who have gambling problems.

The Ipsos survey also looked at the stigma involved in gambling issues and the help that is required around it.

Survey Findings on Problem Gambling Stigma

The biggest finding of the GambleAware survey was that about 66% of adults who have struggled with issues surrounding problem gambling have never attempted to get help.

Out of all the people who admitted to not seeking help, more than a third of them said that the reason they did not seek help was because of the stigma surrounding problem gambling. They claim that the shame and guilt of speaking up kept them silent about their issues.

The majority of survey participants also acknowledged that certain gambling forms are, without a doubt, addictive. Some pointed-out games include scratch cards, instant win games, and various casino games. This would mean not just online gambling but also land-based venues where gambling options are sold.

If you are one of the 66% of people not seeking help, do it! That is if you think you need help, please read this news and seek help. I have added a variety of resources, which are guide to help control your spending using responsible gambling tools. Plus, there is a list of organisations that offer free help if you think you have an issue with gambling. Forget the stigma, and don’t be afraid to come forward!

Let’s look at the actual figures before gasping at that 66% figure

66% sounds like a huge number, but this is not 66% of people gambling in the UK. According to our previous news, ‘BGC Praises Low Rates of UK Problem Gambling’ news, the number of problem gamblers in the UK is lower than 0.5%. A figure was also backed up in our ‘UKGC. Gambling Stats Open Letter’ news also states from the source (the UKGC open letter on the authority’s website) that 20 million people in the UK gamble.

0.5% means there are an estimated 100,000 with a gambling problem. In the UK, with a population of 65+ million, that is 0.154%. Therefore, we are looking at 66% of the 20 0.5% of 20 million people who gamble or 60% of the 0.154% of people in the entire UK population who have a gambling addiction problem. I can’t say whether the 66^ of people not seeking help are within these figures. For argument’s sake, let’s say from 100,000 people with a problem gambling habit; if 66% are not seeking help, that’s 66,000 people. I doubt this is the correct figure.

Previous Problem Stats Gambling Stats News

The Impact of the Stigma Around This ‘Hidden Addiction’

GambleAware’s Chief Executive, Zoë Osmond, said that the survey findings are alarming and that gambling is often a hidden addiction, which is why many people do not seek the necessary help.

With most other addictions, other people can quite quickly become aware of it, but gambling addiction can go unnoticed for a long time.

Zoë made it very clear that anyone who is struggling with problem gambling should seek support as soon as they can before the issue gets worse. Even those who only suspect that they might encounter issues should familiarise themselves with the resources available to those who struggle with harmful gambling.

GambleAware’s Initiatives and Public Health Campaign

After this survey highlighted the issues mentioned above, GambleAware introduced a public health campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and multiple media companies.

This public health campaign will focus on spreading awareness about gambling issues, reducing the stigma around gambling addictions, and normalising the attempt to find help. Most of the campaign will be actualised through media content on multiple platforms.

Beyond the campaign, GambleAware is also bringing in other support features like the ability for players to track the amount of time and money spent on their gambling practices.

Where to Get Help for Problem Gambling

Personal Testimonies and Importance of Seeking Help

Clive Tyldesley is a very experienced football commentator who recently quit his job because they were increasingly promoting gambling companies. Clive feels strongly about this as his work with multiple charities has shown him that anyone can fall victim to gambling addiction. He also stated that those suffering from gambling issues are not at fault, and they should not hesitate to seek help.

Professor Dame Clare Gerada was also among those who spoke out about the importance of admitting when there is a gambling problem and finding the needed assistance.

Government’s Response and Future Plans

The UK government also weighed in by saying their gambling white paper will have a legal levy that needs to be paid by all gambling operators. This levy will go to funding research and help with the prevention and treatment of those suffering from gambling problems.

Stuart Andrew, the UK’s gambling minister, expressed his support of the GambleAware public health campaign and acknowledged that the stigma is the biggest reason why people do not seek help when help is needed.

For more information about responsible gambling tools, and how the United Kingdom Gambling Authroity (UKGC) support players, see the online casino UK guide. You will also find a list of casinos which all come with responsible gambling tools and pages giving you advice on how to gamble responsibly on their platforms.

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