New Studies Revealed For Safer Gambling Week Campaign
New research into betting and casino habits has been published in the UK as part of the country’s annual Safer Gambling Week event.
Running from November 17-23, the aim of Safer Gambling Week is to give people the knowledge and tools to help them to ensure that they are able to gamble more safely.
New research has found that over five million people in Britain would like to reduce or quit their gambling habits, with this figure including two million 18–34-year olds.
A separate study has also revealed nearly half (47%) of bettors in the UK would only talk about a betting or gambling problem if they fell into financial issues such as racking up debt.
The studies show the extent to which betting and gambling remains a popular habit in the UK and while many are able to enjoy it without experiencing problems, others develop issues.
GambleAware’s Annual Treatment & Support Survey
Released to coincide with this year’s Safer Gambling Week event, GambleAware’s annual Treatment & Support survey is a major new piece of research into the subject.
This year’s report, which was published on November 14, found that 3.9 million people want to reduce how much they gamble despite not believing they are experiencing problem gambling.
The chief executive for GambleAware, Anna Hargrave, noted that the results from the support survey show how many people are in need of help.
She said:
Five million people want to reduce or quit their gambling, which highlights just how much our tools and services are needed, as well as those that sit within the National Gambling Support Network. However gambling is making you feel, there is help available.
Wherever you are in your journey, I want to take this opportunity to remind people that help and support continues to be available for people in need now and within the new statutory gambling harms system. For free advice, tools and support, visit gambleaware.org.
Bingo and lotteries are highly popular forms of gambling around the world
Stigma Blocks People Accessing Support
A new study of 500 UK bettors found that more than a third of respondents (34%) would rather lose money on a bet than ask for some advice from either a friend or a professional.
Nearly a quarter of those who took part in the study said that they would need to lose £100 a week before considering seeking out professional help.
Almost a fifth (18%) said that the amount that they would have to lose would be up to £500 a week before they would be ready to take the step of seeking support.
Nearly half (49%) of those who answered questions admitted that they have been playing down how much they gamble in order to protect their reputation, indicating that stigma is an issue.
Government And BGC Backs Safer Gambling Week
The Safer Gambling Week campaign has received widespread support from the industry, as well as standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) and the government.
Baroness Twycross, the minister for gambling, said:
As a government, we are fully committed to reducing harmful gambling and protecting those at risk. That is why we have introduced a statutory levy aimed at providing funding to tackle this.
We welcome the contribution that Safer Gambling Week makes. It provides a good opportunity to highlight the tools and support that is available to people who may need it.
Safer Gambling Week arrives amid speculation that companies in the industry in the UK could soon be hit by higher levels of taxation, against which the BGC has regularly campaigned.
Grainne Hurst, the BGC’s chief executive, highlighted the fact that millions of people in the UK “enjoy a regular flutter”.
She added in a November 16 statement:
Last year’s campaign was a great success with over 1.5 million unique accounts using a safer gambling tool during the week.
