New UK study reveals extent of gambling-related harm to families and friends

(AsiaGameHub) –   According to the Gambling Commission, the new Gambling Survey for Great Britain offers a more extensive view of harm that extends beyond the PGSI framework.

UK.- New data from the British Gambling Commission indicates that almost one in 11 adults in Great Britain experienced harm caused by someone else’s gambling in 2024. This analysis draws upon the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), which surveyed 19,714 adults with in-depth questions regarding their gambling behaviors and the resulting outcomes.

Nearly half of the respondents (48 per cent) stated they had a close acquaintance who gambles, while 9 per cent (approximately 1.6 million individuals) reported facing at least one negative consequence because of it. Within this group, 5.3 per cent characterized the harms as severe, and almost one in five noted at least one adverse effect.

The Gambling Commission noted that individuals categorized as “affected others” tended to be younger and female, comprising 55 per cent women and 46 per cent aged 25 to 44. A significant number were also active gamblers; 63 per cent had placed a bet in the last year, versus 60 per cent of the general adult population. Their engagement in high-risk activities, such as in-person betting and casino gaming, was notably marked, with betting rates almost 3.7 times higher than those of other gamblers.

Among affected others who participated in gambling, 21.5 per cent fell into the problem gambling category on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), contrasting with only 4.5 per cent of the total gambling population—a difference of five times.

Types of harms experienced

Health-related issues were the most prevalent, affecting 73.7 per cent of those identified as affected others. Relationship issues came next at 65.3 per cent, followed by financial damages cited by 42.5 per cent of respondents. Additionally, 57.9 per cent reported stress and anxiety, 52 per cent felt shame or embarrassment, and 45.4 per cent noted increased conflict.

Over a quarter of affected others stated they endured severe harm, encompassing relationship breakups, major financial losses, violence or abuse, and criminal behavior. The most frequently reported severe outcome was relationship breakdown, mentioned in 74.3 per cent of these instances.

Even with the magnitude of the harm, merely 14.5 per cent of affected others sought assistance over the past year. Individuals who gambled themselves were more inclined to seek help (18.3 per cent) than affected others who did not gamble (7.7 per cent). The support services utilized included mental health treatment, welfare guidance, relationship therapy, and specialized gambling programs.

Importance of the latest GSGB data

The regulator indicated that the GSGB’s new consequence-focused questions deliver a wider understanding of harm that goes beyond the PGSI framework, reflecting the experiences of those indirectly affected by gambling. The regulator emphasized that affected others are not a homogenous group; many reside in households or social circles where several individuals gamble, intensifying risks in financial, relational, and health areas.

Plans are in place for additional qualitative research to examine these experiences more thoroughly. Recently, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) unveiled the establishment of the UK’s most significant independent gambling harms research( centre, known as the Gambling Harms Research UK (GHR-UK) Evidence Centre. This initiative will be financed by the new British Gambling Levy that was implemented in April.

Concurrently, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) of the UK government has initiated its new taskforce targeting illegal gambling.