Children and families affected by problem gambling: a wake up call?

The UK gambling landscape is constantly evolving with regulatory bodies responding to new issues and challenges. Such advancement has prompted increased scrutiny and concern regarding the impact and implications of gambling on society, which can sometimes affect the most vulnerable.  

“Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey”, a 2023 YouGov report commissioned by GambleAware produced data on the impacts of problem gambling. Overall, the 2023 report provides a comprehensive overview of gambling-related harms. Most striking, perhaps, is the particular focus on the ‘secondary’ impact betting has on children and families. 

By presenting new data and insights, this report outlines the pressing need for more robust regulation and a national prevention strategy to mitigate the risks associated with gambling. While some findings ring true from this report, others perhaps need to be taken at face value to provide a rounded lens on the ever-changing gambling landscape in the UK.

• Key report findings
• Strategy overview
• Positive implications
• Negative impacts of the report
• Concerns raised by the report
• Is GambleAware neutral?
• Recommendations
• Conclusion

Key findings from GambleAware's 2023 report

YouGov and GambleAware published their findings in 2023 to provide a focused report on gambling habits in the UK. Ultimately, the report wanted to share how targeted support, advice and effective treatment are required for those affected by gambling.

The study saw around 18,000 participants interviewed in several one-to-one meetings and online surveys. Key findings in the report include the impact of gambling-related problems on others and the number of UK adults who had problems with gambling habits:

• 1.65 million children in Great Britain live in households where an adult is experiencing gambling-related issues. 
• 7% of adults are negatively affected by another person's gambling behaviour. 
• Overall, approximately 13.1% of adults report experiencing some level of gambling problems, with 2.9% facing severe issues. 
• 61% of adults in Great Britain said they had gambled in the 12 months prior to the survey being conducted. This equates to around 31.4 million people aged 18 or over.

Strategy overview

The 2023 GambleAware report claims to introduce several significant changes compared to previous years. For instance, it provides "first-of-its-kind data" on the long-term effects of gambling, focusing on how past problem gambling continues to impact individuals and families. 

Additionally, the 2023 survey placed a heightened emphasis on the household impact of gambling, The report includes new survey questions that explore the age at which individuals first experienced negative consequences from gambling. 

Finally, it notes an increased demand for treatment and support services among those grappling with gambling problems.

A key focus of the reported data was on “legacy harms” and “affected others”. These findings suggest that gambling can have lasting impacts on those around and close to the gambler. Moreover, the report discovered that 7% of the adult population is identified as “affected others”, with more women than men in this category.

Positive implications for the gambling industry

Despite some concerning findings in GambleAware’s report, positive shifts could occur following its publication for online gamblers and the UK gambling industry.  

The emphasis on increased regulation and a national prevention strategy could lead to enhanced support systems. Such resources for safer gambling practices can enable gamblers to make safer choices online and be more aware about how systemic betting affects others. 

The report concluded that some participants had used professional addiction prevention services. However, it also noted that confidential and free self-help methods, like timeouts and self-exclusion were used more consistently. This suggests that safer gambling tools are having some effect on helping problem gamblers online. 

Moreover, by proactively addressing these issues, the UK gambling industry will help improve its reputation. This could foster greater trust among consumers to be more self-aware of their gambling behaviours. Such a move would build on the UK Gambling Commission’s desire to build a consumer-first industry that benefits and protects the UK’s 22.5 million betting consumers. 

Stricter regulations and better protections for vulnerable groups could also contribute to the industry's long-term sustainability. By mitigating the negative societal impacts associated with gambling, this report provides useful findings that the Gambling Commission and the Government can use when implementing new online gambling legislation.

How can the report negatively impact the gambling industry?

It's hard to ignore the potential damage such findings could have on the UK gambling industry. 

The emphasis on gambling-related harms, especially among children and families, could certainly tarnish the industry's image, leading to increased public scrutiny and a loss of consumer trust. As awareness of the negative consequences of gambling rises, potential customers may also become more hesitant to engage with gaming platforms. As consumer awareness of gambling-related issues grows, the industry must work hard to mitigate these reputational and financial threats.

Moreover, the call for stricter regulations could result in further compliance costs and operational constraints, directly impacting profitability. Advertising restrictions and mandatory health warnings may limit promotional opportunities, making it more challenging to attract new customers.

How concerned should we be by this report?

The report raises several points of concern with data to back up key findings. Ultimately, the report may well cause some concern for the UK gambling industry and individuals.

Emphasis on increased regulation could result in stricter controls that limit the industry's flexibility and profitability. For gamblers, this could translate into more restrictions that affect their gambling experience and access to services. Greater moves towards rigorous ID checks and financial validation of individuals could, therefore, be enforced as the industry seeks to stop gambling problems at source.

Moreover, highlighting the harm to some individuals caused by gambling – particularly to children – could damage the industry’s reputation and diminish consumer trust. Yet this could prompt the government and relevant bodies to intervene with new approaches to problem gambling rather than surface-level safety controls, which should be seen as a win by the gambling industry.

Is GambleAware's reporting neutral or is there an agenda?

GambleAware’s approach to this report is rooted in its mission to minimise gambling harm. Overall, the organisation focuses on the impact of gambling on children and "legacy harms" not to demonise the industry, but to advocate for safer gambling practices across the board.

By bringing these concerns to light, GambleAware encourages the industry to adopt responsible standards that protect the vulnerable. As a whole, this can benefit both consumers and industry long-term sustainability. 

The organisation wants to bring greater safety to online gamblers and have a fairer industry. However, its goal is to highlight shortcomings in the gambling industry to prevent harm. 

Therefore, all data and statistics must be compared against other industry findings, such as the number of online players who gamble for leisure without issue, or the amount of revenue the UK gambling industry produces each year compared to the small number of problem gamblers. Using a variety of statistics and research from trusted sources helps to create a rounded view of the UK gambling landscape and how it can be improved.

Recommended actions for regulatory bodies

In light of the findings from the GambleAware report, regulatory bodies might have to react to decrease the impacts of gambling addiction on others. 

The UK Gambling Commission is already promoting the use of safer gambling tools offering support for gambling addiction. However, further change might come in the following ways. 

• Strengthen Regulations: Implementing stricter advertising controls, including mandatory health warnings. Such measures can prevent the normalisation of gambling, especially among children and vulnerable groups.
• Prevention Strategies: Develop and fund national strategies focused on early intervention, education and public awareness to reduce gambling-related harms.
• Support and Treatment: Increase access to support services, such as charities and health services for problem gamblers. Ultimately, treatment and recovery should be widely available and effective.
• Industry Compliance: Regularly assess the gambling industry's adherence to new regulations and support initiatives that promote responsible gambling practices. This will include tighter identification checks and monetary limits on accounts. 

By taking these proactive measures, regulatory bodies can better protect individuals and communities from the harmful effects of gambling while fostering a safer environment for all stakeholders involved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GambleAware’s 2023 report serves as a crucial wake-up call for the UK gambling industry, highlighting the pressing need for significant change in how gambling-related harm is addressed. With startling statistics revealing detrimental impacts on children and families, the report calls for accountability of not only gambling operators but also regulators and policymakers in creating a safer gambling environment.

Ultimately, the insights from GambleAware’s 2023 report illuminate the challenges ahead and offer robust data on creating a safer, more responsible gambling environment

While it is important to understand the findings in the context of GambleAware’s mission, regulatory bodies do have an obligation to safeguard the well-being of individuals and communities impacted by gambling.

Here at Slot Gods, we are committed to promoting responsible gambling. We are online gambling industry experts and want you to have the safest and most enjoyable playing experience.