CITIZENS Advice is taking action on gambling harm, working with GambleAware to encourage decision-makers to make gambling safe for everyone.

Britain is one of the biggest gambling markets in the world worth £14billion in 2019-2020 and the industry spent £1.5billion on advertising in 2018.

Gambling is part of everyday life in the UK – most of us think nothing of buying Lottery tickets, playing bingo or having a flutter at the races. It is seen as exciting and fun.

However, there is a darker side to gambling and there are about 2 million people in Britain currently experiencing the effects of gambling harm.

Most worryingly there are approximately 55,000 children problem-gamblers, with millions more youngsters at risk of harm as the result of someone else’s gambling.

What is gambling harm?

Gambling comes with risk of harm which, at its worst, can have devastating effect on people’s finances, relationships and mental health.

For each problem gambler, Citizens Advice estimates another 10 people are experiencing gambling harm – partners, children, friends and colleagues.

More than 75% of our surveyed gamblers had built up debt as a direct result of gambling. Over a third of families with children couldn’t afford essential costs such as food, rent or utility bills as a result of a family member’s gambling.

Stigma

Gambling harm has additional side issues. A GambleAware survey found that three quarters of those who experience problems with gambling do not feel able to open up to family and friends.

There are difficult public perceptions tied to this hidden and complex issue and people often feel uncomfortable reaching out for help.

Citizens Advice supports millions of people every year with financial issues including debt and some of these are connected to gambling harm.

Citizens Advice advisers are impartial and supportive and if gambling is the underlying cause of someone’s money issues they are sensitively guided to the right specialist support services to help them find a way through their problems.

Case study

Sally was referred to Citizens Advice by a local mental health charity. Sally had been bereaved and also had a major relationship breakdown.

Trying to cope with these major life events and think about different things, Sally had become addicted to scratch cards and started going to local casinos. The gambling had led to financial and mental health issues.

With help from Citizens Advice, Sally found out about her local Gamblers Anonymous meetings and started using free Gamban software, which meant that she signed up to GAMSTOP to help her ‘self-exclude’ from casinos.

Sally had money management tips from Citizens Advice who encouraged her to only take out small amounts of cash and leave her money cards at home.

She also had a benefits check which showed she was eligible for universal credit and was referred to Citizens Advice’s Help to Claim service.

Working to reduce gambling harm

Mobile technology means people can gamble anywhere, at any time. Sports like football are saturated with gambling sponsorships. It has become normalised and opportunities to gamble are instantly available.

Citizens Advice is working with GambleAware to raise awareness and break down the stigma that surrounds gambling harm. They have welcomed and provided evidence to the government review of The Gambling Act 2005 as the charity believes updated legislation is urgently required to better protect consumers in a rapidly changing marketplace.

For help with debt, financial problems, gambling harm and other issues contact Citizens Advice.

They are now running an appointments only system at the Lyme Regis outreach on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm at Lyme Regis Town Council offices in Church Street (DT7 3BS) – call on 01308 456594 to make an appointment.