Understanding gambling harms
Gambling can lead to a range of harms, which can affect both the person gambling and those around them.
In GambleAware's Annual Treatment and Support Survey, 13.1% of adults (equivalent to approximately 6.8 million GB adults) were classified as experiencing any level of gambling problems (PGSI 1+).
Some of these harms can last long after problems with gambling have stopped.
GambleAware commissioned a range of projects to improve understanding of how gambling harms develop, persist and become more serious over time.
The Annual Treatment and Support Survey provided a detailed view of the various harms people experience, whilst the Minority Communities and Gambling Harms report revealed the ways in which existing inequalities within society can make these harms worse for certain groups.
The Harms Framework research programme shows the importance of developing tools that can measure how gambling harms affect people’s emotional and physical wellbeing and their relationships with others, as well as causing financial issues.
Explore the projects that have driven meaningful change in how gambling harms are understood and addressed in Great Britain:
of adults in our Annual Treatment and Support Survey, (equivalent to approximately 6.8 million GB adults) were classified as experiencing any level of gambling problems (PGSI 1+).
Here are some of the ways this research drove meaningful change in how gambling harms are understood and addressed in Great Britain.
Through research, it demonstrated that stigma is the main barrier preventing people experiencing gambling harms from accessing support. The stigma language guide was developed to make sure that researchers and stakeholders understand how stigma can make harms worse.
Research showed that there are many people who are not looking for formal support from a service but do want to try and reduce their gambling on their own. This research informed the development of GambleAware’s digital self-help tools.
GambleAware was committed to placing the voices of people with lived experience of gambling harms at the centre of its research. Their involvement provided critical insight into the impact of gambling harms on individuals and communities, and informed approaches to address these issues effectively.
Research has demonstrated issues in the tools used to measure gambling harms, and how these could be addressed by including the experience of different communities. Findings highlighted which populations are most affected, how harms are experienced at both individual and community levels, and the specific treatment and support needs of each.
Insights from these projects informed decisions about GambleAware’s activities, including its commissioning approach, organisational positioning, and collaboration with the National Gambling Support Network.
A series of data profiles were produced by OCSI to bring together data estimated from the Annual Treatment and Support Surveys 2022-2024. These profiles provide a picture of gambling-related harms, usage and demand of treatment for gambling harms and estimated fiscal costs from gambling harms at the local area level across Great Britain.
They are designed to support local decision-makers, commissioners, service providers, researchers, and community organisations to better understand patterns of risk and need in their area, and to inform prevention, treatment, and support activity.
Profiles are available for:
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