Gambling in the workplace is nothing new. Events such as sweepstakes, race nights and – not too long ago – card games during lunch breaks have long been common and are sometimes used by employers to improve team bonding.

But the advent of online gambling and smartphones – plus the increased presence of betting in the media and advertising – has brought with it new issues for employers and employees.  

A survey conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 30 per cent of employees have participated in some form of gambling during work hours, whether through office pools, online betting or card games. 

The survey also highlighted a worrying trend showing that nearly half of these employees admitted gambling at work has negatively impacted their productivity. 

It is important to keep the issue of gambling in the workplace in perspective and it is a good thing that it can be spoken about more openly than in the past. The role of employers and colleagues in looking after their peers is an important one and openness and transparency can help facilitate this.

Risks of gambling in the workplace

Gambling in the workplace can pose several risks. First and foremost is the loss of productivity. Employees preoccupied with gambling are less focused on their tasks, leading to missed deadlines and a decrease in efficiency. Gambling can also foster a toxic work environment between colleagues if money is gambled and won and lost between co-workers.

Financial instability is another critical issue. For some, the allure of gambling can lead to significant losses, creating stress and distraction that further impact their work performance. In extreme cases, employees might even resort to crime to cover their gambling debts and there have been many instances of employers being the victim in such circumstances.

Companies are beginning to take notice. Many are implementing policies to curb gambling activities during work hours and the use of technology to prevent online gambling on work devices.

Employers and human resources departments have a huge role too. Regular training sessions and awareness programs are being introduced to educate employees about gambling. 

This can raise awareness and allow employees to understand more about gambling and the potential risks. And rather than simply scaring people off, it is essential to promote healthy, responsible behaviour without telling adults what they can or can’t do with their own time and money.

The gaming industry is without a doubt one of the most fast-paced places to work. That’s probably why upwards of 120,000 people across the UK have been attracted to roles within it and its many stakeholders and suppliers.

If you want to find out what kind of gambler you are, and whether you may have a problem, you can also take the Gamalyze test here and it will give you an instant result.

As an industry, there is a justified awareness of the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable customers, with £100s of millions pledged towards preventing and treating gambling harm. However, there is a pressing question: how much of that spend goes towards the treatment of gambling harm among the industry’s own employees?

Sports impact

With this summer’s sporting calendar featuring Euro 2024, Wimbledon and the Olympics before the domestic football season is upon us again, many workplaces will have arranged sweepstakes, fantasy league competitions or even summer social activities such as a day at the races. 

However, for employees in the industry who are already exposed to more marketing and see winners and losers in their customer base, is there a danger of normalising gambling?

This is a unique challenge for the industry. The Gambling Commission’s Gambling Participation in 2019 report suggested that 47 per cent of UK adults had gambled at least once during the previous four weeks. For gaming industry employees, this figure is likely to be higher and may involve more frequent gambling.

Workplace factors enhance the attractiveness of gambling: high interaction with customers, frequent exposure to gambling products and a competitive, stressful environment. Employees often hear about wins more frequently than losses, have access to ‘hot tips’ and may feel they have insider knowledge, increasing the likelihood of them gambling. It is of course just a fallacy that an employee of the gambling industry has any more likelihood of winning than someone from another industry.

When things get out of hand, barriers to accessing support are significant. Traditional support routes often focus on abstinence, unrealistic for those working 40 hours a week in a gambling environment. Admitting a problem to a line manager is daunting but the progress in the industry at being aware and promoting support is evident and education in this case is much more effective than abstinence.

Gambling is often referred to as a ‘hidden addiction’ because its symptoms are less obvious than those of, say, alcohol or drug reliance. Managers must look for subtle signs such as withdrawn or distracted behaviour, reduced productivity and irregular timekeeping. Red flags include asking for advances on wages, borrowing money from colleagues and workers taking longer breaks.

Interestingly, while 85 per cent of UK workplaces have a drugs and alcohol policy, fewer than 5 per cent have a gambling policy, but this is increasing as it becomes more important to employers.

Better Change has been helping gaming companies identify and address gambling harm among employees by providing responsible gambling training, companies can promote safer gambling in the workplace.

Training focuses on developing the skills needed for sensitive conversations about gambling habits, encouraging HR teams and managers to listen without judgement and support employees. Tools such as bespoke Responsible Gambling training modules can identify an employee’s attitude to risk and provide insights into their propensity for gambling harm.

Ultimately, excessive gambling among employees can affect workplace productivity, morale and the company’s reputation. Isn’t it time the industry put as much focus on safeguarding vulnerable teams as it does on looking after vulnerable customers?

Reasons why employees of the gambling industry might be more susceptible to gambling related harm include:

• Deep interactions with customers
• Frequent exposure to gambling wins and losses
• Access to ‘hot tips’ and insider knowledge
• High-stress, competitive work environment
• Frequent exposure to gambling products
• Low wages for junior staff
• Shift work with casinos as the only open venues.
• Self-exclusion difficulties due to job security fears

By acknowledging the problem and taking proactive steps, employers can create a more productive, harmonious workplace and protect the well-being of their employees.

What can you do if you are concerned about your gambling?

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. (Northern Ireland, call 0800 088 6725; Ireland, call 1800 936 725)