GambleAware raises concern as demand for gambling harm treatment and support almost doubles since 2020

• Annual Treatment and Support Survey 2024¹ shows a sharp increase in people seeking help for gambling-related harm: almost 1 in 3 (30%) adults who gamble and are experiencing any risk of gambling problems² want treatment, support or advice — almost doubling from 17% in 2020³. ​ 
• The number of people affected by family or friend’s gambling has increased from 6% in 2020 to 8% in 2024 — now equivalent to an estimated 4.3 million adults in Great Britain⁴. Estimates based on the YouGov survey also show that around 2 million children may be living in households with an adult experiencing ‘problem gambling’⁵. 
• The report, which also explored attitudes towards children’s exposure to gambling, found widespread support for more restrictions on gambling advertising in formats popular with children, with 91% supporting a ban on gambling advertising on TV and video games and 90% supporting a ban on social media. 
• The report provides new evidence on gambling harms associated with prize draws, such as Omaze or McDonald’s Monopoly. More than a quarter (27%) of people who gamble are estimated to be experiencing any of risk of gambling problems from prize draws,⁶ and around 1 in 9 (11%) are estimated to be experiencing ‘problem gambling’⁷.​ 

Demand for treatment and support for gambling harm in Great Britain has almost doubled since 2020, a new report released today has revealed. The report, based on a survey conducted by YouGov and published annually for the past five years, found that almost 1 in 3 (30%) adults who gamble and are experiencing any risk of problems from it want treatment, support or advice, compared to around 1 in 5 (17%) in 2020. 

While it is positive that people are accessing the help and support available, GambleAware, the leading charity working to tackle gambling harms in Great Britain, has expressed concern about the sharp increase as it could be an indicator of gambling harm as a growing issue across the country. The data also shows an increase in the proportion of adults who are experiencing ‘problem gambling’, up from 2.4% in 2020 to 3.8% in 20248.  

GambleAware’s report also revealed that there has been an increase in the number of people who are affected by a friend or family member’s gambling; which could include anything from losing money or having relationships break down. The proportion of people affected by someone else’s gambling has increased from 6.5% in 2020 to 8.1% in 2024, and is now equivalent to an estimated 4.3 million adults across Great Britain. 

The Treatment and Support Survey also highlights the link between prize draws – such as Omaze and McDonald’s Monopoly – and gambling harms. The research found that one in four (27%) people who gamble were estimated to be experiencing any risk of problems from taking part in prize draws. In addition, around one in nine (11%) people who gamble were estimated to be experiencing ‘problem gambling’ because of prize draws.  

Prize draws are not currently regulated as a licenced form of gambling. However, GambleAware is warning that they have many similarities to certain types of gambling and that people may not understand the risks associated with them. The charity is also concerned that prize draws normalise gambling, particularly for children and young people.  

The Treatment and Support Survey also explored attitudes towards children’s exposure to gambling and found widespread public support for more restrictions on gambling advertising on formats popular with children. A significant majority (91%) of people supported a ban on gambling advertising on TV and video games and 90% supported a ban on social media. GambleAware is calling for the government to restrict gambling marketing and content online, particularly where children and young people are most vulnerable to it.​ 

Zoë Osmond OBE, CEO of GambleAware, said: “Gambling can be highly addictive, with devastating impacts on people’s lives, relationships and financial stability. While it is encouraging that more people have sought help, this rise may also point to a growing public health crisis. We are increasingly alarmed by how gambling is being normalised and how frequently people—especially young people—are exposed to gambling across Great Britain.  

“To reverse this troubling trend, urgent preventative action is needed. This must include tougher regulation of gambling advertising to stop gambling being portrayed as ‘harmless fun’. There should also be mandatory health warnings on all gambling ads, stricter controls on digital and social media marketing , and a full ban on gambling promotion in stadiums and sports venues to protect children and young people from harm.” 

Kate Gosschalk, YouGov Associate Director, said: “We are pleased to share the findings from the latest annual Treatment and Support Survey, a substantial online survey of around 18,000 people in addition to interviews with those who gamble. The new data provides valuable insight about gambling harm, including an increase in the number of people seeking support/treatment over the past five years.” 

 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

1. The full report is available here
 
GambleAware’s Treatment and Support Survey is a nationally representative online survey of almost 18,000 adults in Great Britain over the age of 18. Conducted by YouGov, it shows the levels of treatment and support for gambling harm needed across Great Britain. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 17,933 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th November 2024 and 23rd December 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). 

2. Any risk of gambling problems defined as a score of 1 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). 

3. Taken from Table 3 of the report. In 2024, 30% of those with a PGSI of 1+ report wanted any treatment/ support/advice, compared to 17% in 2020. This equates to a 76% increase. 

4. Taken from Section 4.1 of the report. In 2024, 8.1% were classified as an affected other, which corresponds to approximately 4.3 million GB adults. The proportion in 2020 was 6.5%, so it has increased by 25%. 

5. Taken from Table 13 of the report. Among those who experience ‘problem gambling’ (PGSI 8+) there is an average of 1.1 children under 18 per household. This corresponds to an estimated 2.2 million children affected in the GB population. This is calculated under the assumption that if someone in a household gambles at these levels, it is likely that others within the same household will be affected. 

6. Those who gamble were asked which prize draws products they used. They were then asked an adapted version of the PGSI and asked to the extent to which prize draws were leading to problems. Exact question wording can be found within the appendix of the full report. 

7. We have used the term ‘problem gambling’ when referring specifically to people with a PGSI score of 8+. This is less reductive than labelling individuals as ‘problem gamblers’. For more information on this, please see our language guide. We use the term ‘gambling harms’ when talking about the wider societal issue. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) measures the level of a person’s current problems with gambling, but is an underestimate of gambling harms which affect more than just the individual who gambles.  

8. The population rates of ‘problem gambling’ (PGSI 8+) from the Treatment and Support Survey are provided below. Note that figures for 2019 have not been included here due to changes in the methodology and questionnaire from 2020 onwards.  

Proportion of people with PGSI 8+:	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Among all adults aged 18+ in Great Britain	2.4%	2.8%	2.9%	2.9%	3.8%
Among adults who have gambled in last 12 months	4.2%	4.7%	4.7%	4.8%	6.2%

 

It should be noted that these are not official statistics on gambling harms however they do provide important trend data related to gambling harm. Official statistics are contained in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, produced by the Gambling Commission. Different surveys use different methodologies and sampling techniques, which can contribute to different results.  For more information on this, please see reports by Professor Patrick Sturgis in 2021 (available here) and 2025 (available here). 

 

About GambleAware 

GambleAware is the leading independent charity (Charity No. England & Wales 1093910, Scotland SC049433) and strategic commissioner of gambling harm education, prevention and treatment across Great Britain to keep people safe from gambling harms.    

GambleAware commissions the National Gambling Support Network (NSGN) which provides, free confidential treatment, as well as the National Gambling Helpline which takes over 55,000 calls a year.   

The introduction of a statutory levy and the appointment of three new commissioners for gambling harms research, prevention and treatment means that the work historically delivered by GambleAware will now transition to the UK government and new commissioners across England, Scotland and Wales.  

GambleAware remains committed to fulfilling existing commissioning agreements until the new system is in place by April 2026. Our main priority continues to be keeping people safe from gambling harm and to ensure stability and continuity for our beneficiaries as the new commissioners take over. The GambleAware website and critical prevention resources continue to provide accessible support for all.