The problem with problem gambling rates

The problem with problem gambling rates - Banner
Simon Wooldridge
by Simon Wooldridge Last updated:

Problem gambling rates have increased in recent years, which is an ongoing concern and potentially alarm bell ringing time if the upward trend continues. 

But is there more to it? Let’s look at it, seek to understand the latest figures, the impact it has on people’s lives and at the work being done to support problem gamblers today. We're still a way off having all the answers:

What is problem gambling?

Problem gambling is a behaviour that is disruptive to an individual, a family member, daily life, and, potentially, a career. It’s an uncontrollable urge to keep betting despite the potential consequences. It can also impact on the health of the individual and those close to them. 

The problem gambler is willing to risk a lot in the hope of being rewarded with something of even greater value. This can lead to addiction. The brain’s reward system is stimulated in a similar way to the effects drugs or alcohol have. This can lead to chasing losses and spending money they don’t have in search of those elusive rewards.

Are we all on the same page? 

The official figures from a recent survey by the Gambling Commission show that the ‘problem gambling’ rate is now at 2.5%, which is an increase from 0.5% and 0.3% seen in previous surveys. That’s a big change. 

When you see some impactful changes made by the government around gambling, you start to think that they understand the situation. Upping the age to play the National Lottery from 16 to 18 back in April 2021 is a prime example. But then the Gambling Commission announced plans for £2 slot stake limits online and you wonder whether anyone’s really listening when moves like this will likely push many towards unregulated casinos.

It's all relative

When trying to understand problem gambling, it’s important to consider whether someone who doesn’t have a lot of money and spends £50 they don’t have is in the same category as a wealthy person spending £50,000 they do have on a regular basis? These things are relative. But they both warrant attention. 

Based on data from the annual Health Survey for England (HSE) in January 2023, the highest rates of gambling participation are among employed people who obtained higher education qualifications and are among relatively less deprived groups. Harmful gambling is more generally associated with unemployed people and those living in more deprived areas.

But as gambling is always going to be a money maker for many organisations, are the current responsible gambling measures in place enough? Is that 2.5% mentioned above enough to warrant change? And how is ‘problem gambling’ being measured? When you think of how many individuals have bypassed KYC (Know Your Customer) and affordability checks and got into trouble financially, it’s difficult to know whether the care is there from casinos.

Understanding the impact of problem gambling

When people gambling irresponsibly, it can affect many parts of their life. The following list isn’t exhaustive, but it outlines just how many aspects of life are potentially jeopardised by problem gambling:

  • Finances – struggling to pay bills, spending more than they can afford to gamble, taking out loans to bet.
  • Mental health – difficulty sleeping, mood swings, depression and anxiety, using gambling to escape from other problems, suicidal thoughts.
  • Family relationships – failing to focus on family life, spending less time with family and friends, arguing more with loved ones, lying to them and stealing to fund gambling habits.
  • Physical health – substance abuse (drugs or alcohol), weight gain or loss, stress, headaches, poor hygiene, staying inside for longer periods.
  • Career – failure to carry out responsibilities, dropping the ball on important projects, missing work, losing their job, lack of compassion for others.

Stats don’t always tell the full story

Don’t let stats scare you too much – they can often be misleading. Take the problem gambling rates article in The Guardian for example. They highlight that UK problem gambling rates may be eight times higher than thought. That sounds alarming, but a jump from 0.3% to 2.5% is how they’ve come up with that figure. Any percentage is a worry where this topic is concerned, but ‘eight times’ sounds a lot worse than it actually is here. The percentages relate to a Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), which asks individuals:

  • Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
  • Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
  • When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
  • Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
  • Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
  • Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
  • Have people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it was true?
  • Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
  • Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

Look at the detail

What’s important to understand here is that this is a percentage of the whole adult population in the UK and not just those who gamble. So don't look at the stats and be immediately concerned, as it’s often the case that some articles have not taken care to ensure they are representing the stats correctly, accurately, or in the proper context. And let’s be honest, it wouldn't be the first time a media outlet has used or misrepresented stats to drive an agenda.

There are organisations that jump on figures like this to try and create more noise to get what they want. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but some arguably push it more to showcase stats as a way to ensure changes are made. 

Charles Ritchie, Co-founder of Gambling with Lives (GwL), has pushed for a statutory levy on gambling profits:

“These figures show what many of us already knew, that the harms caused by gambling have been massively underestimated, with millions of people in the UK affected. The number of people that have considered or attempted to take their own lives confirms the appalling scale of suicides happening now,”

“Now legislation needs to catch up with this reality. The new government must immediately bring in a statutory levy on gambling industry profits to pay for vital prevention and treatment, and take measures to restrict gambling advertising.”

But is advertising a major part of the problem? What about loot boxes in video games like FIFA where those under 18 can spend money to buy virtual items? It’s a long argument where you can’t really point the finger at just one thing. Harming the profits of gambling companies to pay for prevention and treatment could be a great way to go. But if what’s in place isn’t enough already, how far do companies have to go to prevent this? I’m not sure it can ever be fully prevented, and I’m not alone thinking that.

Support for problem gamblers

Help and support for problem gambling is always available, more so than a few years ago. At the end of 2023, it was announced that the NHS was set to benefit from £100m of funding to help with research, prevention, and the ongoing treatment of problem gambling.

The following organisations have also stepped up their services in recent times to offer support to anyone who needs it:

Although GamCare revealed a sharp increase in contacts in 2023, more people coming forward is positive as the excellent work from organisations like these allow people to feel more comfortable about getting in touch. More people coming forward to seek support shouldn’t automatically be read as more problem gambling.

A big part of the UK economy

The gambling  industry employs around 47,000 people (Equity, 2022) across the UK, with job opportunities regularly opening up – from customer service and marketing to finance and high-level management positions. This leads to more skilled people in the broader workforce, which can have a knock-on effect in other areas. 

When you look a little deeper, you also realise that it’s not just direct employment but roles in other sectors like security and hospitality. Let’s not forget that the industry also supports tourism with people visiting casinos in the UK and all over the world. This then trickles down to economic benefits around accommodation, entertainment, shopping and food.

When you consider the industry contributed £3.3 billion of betting and gaming tax receipts in 2023/24, it really highlights just how important the sector is to the UK economy.

Growing industry could mean bigger problems in the future

It sounds obvious, but with the industry continuing to grow, it’s undeniable that some gambling stats around will continue to move in the wrong direction. This could well lead to more restrictions for companies and bettors, but it remains to be seen exactly what those restrictions might be.

In contrast, a bigger industry will mean more jobs and more opportunities for people and businesses to thrive. For things to go smoothly, the Government and the Gambling Commission need to work together to ensure the suggested 97.5% of the UK population that don’t have a problem gambling aren’t affected negatively by future rules and regulations.

Conclusion 

Ultimately, the gambling industry as a whole has taken big strides in recent years to help problem gamblers and ensure they get the necessary support. It’s a balancing act for everybody – the casinos, the government and the regulatory bodies. They all have a duty of care and strive to make anyone’s betting experience a safe and secure one.

Responsible gambling measures have never been more advanced and helpful as they are right now. This must continue as the industry grows and more people begin their betting journey. What the government needs to focus on, is doing their best to prevent more unlicensed and unregulated casinos. Keep any future changes fair and keep them respectable, otherwise we may see problem gambling worsen and the blame won’t be at the door of the legitimate casinos.

Play safe

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