Problem gambling is costing the UK up to £1.2bn a year, according to a new report that its authors say should act as a “wake-up call” for the government.
Up to 1% of the adult population are believed to have a gambling problem. Men are five times more likely to become addicted to gambling than women, while those in the lowest income bracket are least likely to gamble but most likely to develop a problem.
People aged 16-24 are the group least likely to gamble, but among the report’s findings is that those from this group who do so are more likely to develop a gambling problem.
Craig Thorley, a research fellow from IPRR, which undertook the report on behalf of charity GambleAware, said: “Our research shows the scale of challenge for Britain’s public services for the first time”.
The gambling industry is already facing extreme scrutiny, particularly for its fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), often called the “crack-cocaine” of gambling and currently the subject of a government review.
If you have personal experiences of problem gambling yourself or know anyone who has, we’d like to hear from you. Have you had any issues giving up gambling? Do you have any family and/or friends addicted to gambling? How has gambling affected your life? You can share your stories – anonymously if you wish – by filling out the form below and we’ll use some of them in our reporting.
