The impact of problem gambling on families

The impact of problem gambling on families - Banner
Joseph Lee
by Joseph Lee Last updated:

GambleAware recently shone a spotlight on the impacts of household exposure to gambling. Citing a new survey, the influential charity has raised concerns that large numbers of children may be growing up in households affected by problematic gambling behaviours. 

Here, we examine some of the findings, the implications and some of the ways forward:

Overview: Gross participation and problem gambling

The Annual Treatment and Support Survey found that gross gambling participation figures were approximately consistent with those published in other reports, such as the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). 

Including those who only play the National Lottery, around half of UK adults gamble on a regular basis.

Certain types of gambling, including scratchcards and football betting, have seen small year-on-year increases – the former from 16.7% to 17.8%, and the latter from 8.4% to 9.3%.

Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI)

The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which is the standard metric used to assess problem gambling, places respondents on a scale of 0-9. Of the survey’s respondents, 13.1% exhibited some level of gambling-related problems, with a PGSI score of 1+. For 2023, this figure is slightly lower than in 2022 (13.4%). The 13.1% breaks down as follows:

  • 6.7% scored 1-2 on the PGSI, indicating “low levels of problems with gambling”
  • 3.5% scored 3-7, denoting “moderate” levels of problems
  • 2.9% scored 8+, which is considered “problem gambling”

Legacy harms and affected others

One of the survey’s aims was to explore the extent to which young people are exposed to gambling, and the effects of this exposure. 

The area of legacy harms has not been explored much in previous studies. The term “affected others” refers to people negatively affected by another’s gambling, such as a spouse or member of their household.

GambleAware’s latest report suggests that approximately 7% of the adult population are classed as “affected others,” and that a disproportionately large number of these are women. The gender trend is likely to be due to the fact that many affected others are partners, and men are more likely to gamble.

Some of the numbers...

1 in 5 “affected others reported that they were first negatively affected by someone’s gambling behaviour before the age of 18". They also reported “negative feelings such as anger, frustration, and a loss of trust” as a result of another’s gambling.

74% of affected others “reported that they were negatively affected by a parent’s gambling”. This is novel data – there are no stats from previous years that can be used for comparison.

35% of affected others “sought advice or support for themselves in some form”. This figure is up from 26% the previous year. 

82% of gamblers “felt their gambling had no impact on others,” and those who did feel that their gambling impacted others believed that 1-3 people were likely to be affected.

Also, problem gamblers were more likely to have children in their household. 58% of those who scored 1+ on the PGSI lived with children. By comparison, fewer, at 39% of those with no gambling problems, lived with children. 

Support usage

The study found that only 4% of gamblers wanted to quit, with 9% wanting to reduce their gambling. Various resources and support services are available to British gamblers, and the study sought to establish how widely these are used.

The desire to quit correlates with the PGSI score, suggesting players with more problematic gambling behaviours are more likely to want to reduce or quit. The desire to quit “was often rooted in realising the impacts that it was having on themselves and their family.” 

23% of those with a PGSI score of 1+ reported using support services in the preceding 12 months. Those with higher PGSI scores were much more likely to reach out for help, with overall levels of support service usage rising from 13% in 2022 to 16% in 2023.

65% of those with a PGSI score of 8+ reported seeking help, in line with previous years.

The number of those who wanted to seek help continued to rise, from 16% in 2021, to 19% in 2022, and to 23% in 2023. The percentage of affected others who sought help rose substantially from 26% to 35%.

Good news and bad news

The survey reveals some interesting trends. Legacy harms and affected others have not received such focus in previous studies, so there’s quite a bit to unpack.

A lasting impact

What’s clear is that gambling behaviours can be harmful for others in a shared household. This seems to be particularly true where children are involved, meaning their protection is likely to be a top priority for charities and the Gambling Commission (UKGC) going forward.

These organisations have their work cut out for them. Although capable of making interventions and drawing up legislation, it’s a challenge for the UKGC or other bodies to have a direct impact on what goes on in players’ homes. 

Moving forward, a good approach to reducing legacy harms is to educate gamblers on the wider-reaching, longer-lasting impacts of their activities, as many are likely to be unaware of this pattern. 

Also, these organisations need to work closely with social services, the education system, and childrens’ charities to ensure that everything is being done to safeguard young people.

As Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, stated: 

“The research shows a concerning link between early exposure to gambling at a younger age and the risk of harms in later life, and for the first time shows the lasting impact legacy harms can have.”

It’s also important that parents who gamble aren’t judged or vilified. Those players whose behaviours affect other people are still only a small minority.

Shifting gambler preferences

The increasing popularity of scratchcards and football betting is part of a wider trend. Although only incremental, it suggests a shift away from lotto gambling towards a need for more instant gratification. 

This is considered troubling because these increasingly popular forms of gambling are more strongly associated with gambling-related harm. 

However, recently, as part of the White Paper overhaul, several measures have been introduced, such as the £2 max stake limit on slots. This may curb the trend towards instant-win gambling, yet any impact of this legislation won’t be reflected in GambleAware’s recent report.

Changing attitudes towards treatment

The statistics reveal an increase in the number of players seeking help. This is not necessarily an indication of more people needing help. It may suggest that taboos are breaking down, and that players are more open to discussing issues. We should also remember that more people are gambling so an incremental increase is, to some degree, to be expected.

In line with these stats, GamCare has reported a significant 24% uptick in the number of calls it receives. Also, despite criticisms, events like Safer Gambling Week can prompt surges in the number of those who seek help.

The study found a strong connection between problem gambling and suicidal ideation, with 44% or those with a PGSI score of 8+ being at risk of suicide, compared to 8% of the general population. 

More people seeking support a positive

With stark statistics like this, it’s good to know that the work done by charities has an impact. As gambling clearly relates to other areas where people have problems, an interconnected network of support services and charities is required. GamCare is known to work closely with Samaritans, and more relationships like this would likely benefit those struggling.

As concerning as some of the statistics regarding affected others and legacy harms are, the large increase in the number of these people seeking advice or support is a positive. 

The numbers suggest that most players who need help are willing to reach out for it, and this may even be connected to the reduced and decreasing levels of problem gambling overall.

Possible study limitations

As with all studies, it’s important to consider any potential methodological limitations.

This is a landmark report due, largely, to its inclusion of questions such as those designed to “understand at which age affected others were first exposed to someone’s gambling”. For this reason, some statistics can’t be compared to those of previous years. In some cases, it’s not yet possible to understand them in a wider context.

It’s often the case that studies struggle to find a sample that is representative of the general population. The GambleAware survey uses a large sample of more than 18,000 respondents, so in theory its results should be generalisable. 

Read between the lines

However, it may be that some individuals were more likely to respond than others, creating a bias and skewing results to some degree. For instance, it may be the case that those with severe gambling problems are either more or less likely to respond to such a survey.

The Problem Gambling Severity Index is also problematic. It assigns respondents to one of nine groups, which could be considered a reductive approach and an effort to quantify something that may in fact be more nuanced. 

Similarly, what ‘problem gambling’ means to one person may not be the same to another; there’s an unavoidable element of subjectivity in the interpretation of the questions and therefore the results. As with ‘burnout’ in the workplace, how do you quantify something that is essentially subjective? Although a useful tool, valid criticisms of the PGSI have been made previously.

Next steps

GambleAware’s new survey reveals that occupying the same living space as a gambler can have a negative impact. This is likely to inform the next moves made by regulators and charities alike. 

The charity officially stated, “To tackle gambling harm for anyone at risk of impact across Great Britain, GambleAware has reiterated its call for a robust national prevention strategy, including increased regulation on gambling advertising such as mandatory health warnings, and a public health approach that incorporates prevention, early intervention, effective treatment, and aftercare.”

Balance, objectivity required...

It’s crucial that, going forward, charities and regulators are realistic about the impact of these proposed measures. Proper investigations should be made into their viability and efficacy before they are put in place, in order to avoid choking the industry. 

There is a balance to be struck, but a sensible approach, informed by statistics and data, rather than a heavy-handed knee-jerk one, should be taken. This way, gamblers, children and ‘others’ can be protected and the British gambling industry can continue to thrive. These are not mutually exclusive goals.

The 2024 statistics, when published, should reveal more about the way things are going. It may be the case that the pattern of parental gambling behaviours affecting children is becoming either more or less prevalent, but we’ll have to wait to find out. 

Play safe

As always, we at No Wagering encourage responsible gambling and recommend that players make use of the resources that are available to them. Please play responsibly.