Britons lost an estimated £12.6bn through gambling last year, the equivalent of almost £300 per person. What’s more, 48% of people questioned by the Gambling Commission admitted to gambling at least once in the previous month.
This comes at a time when online gambling is soaring in popularity. People can now gamble from home or while on the go without having to go to a specific venue. They can bet on football matches or games. However, according to academics we don’t know enough about the effects on gambling on those who do it.
What’s more, problem gambling is estimated to cost the UK up to £1.2bn. A recent report, commissioned by charity GambleAware and written by the IPPR thinktank, has charted the costs associated with problem gambling, such as mental health services, police intervention and homelessness.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from readers, workers, experts and those who place bets about the gambling industry. Do you gamble online or gamble in bookies? What draws you to it? Do you work in the industry? How has it changed? Do you think there should be more regulation? Share your stories and experiences with us.
- Please note that you can submit your story anonymously if you’d prefer. Just specify this when you fill out the form. As this is a sensitive issue we will contact you before using your response.
