Debt advice provider PayPlan has announced its support for a national public health campaign to reduce the stigma around gambling harms, led by GambleAware and GamCare, two of the UK’s leading treatment organizations. This initiative arises in the context of research conducted by both these institutions and PayPlan, highlighting the need for awareness and adequate support for those affected by this problem.
According to data released by the two charities and internal investigations by PayPlan, it was revealed that a significant percentage of the UK population believes there is negative judgment towards people who suffer harm caused by gambling. GambleAware’s research found that 62% of respondents perceive a negative stigma, while 56% recognize the importance of combating this perception.
Zoë Osmond
Zoë Osmond, CEO of GambleAware, highlighted the complexity of gambling-related problems: “Gambling harms are hidden and complex in nature, making it incredibly hard to spot from the outside when someone may need help.
“It is therefore critical that when accessing financial services, especially when due to the impact of gambling harms, people feel they can talk openly about the issues they may be experiencing and are made aware of the wide range of support services available,” she said.
Osmond also celebrated the partnership: “We are delighted to be partnering with PayPlan as part of this campaign and look forward to working together to encourage people to open up about gambling harms and feeling safe to do so.”
PayPlan, in turn, emphasized that 30% of its clients felt that gambling had a negative impact on their mental health. Paired with the current cost of living crisis in the UK, there is growing concern about the impact of economic downturns on problem gamblers.
The collaboration between PayPlan, GambleAware, and GamCare occurs in the context of the gambling industry implementing the recommendations of the White Paper review. Among the most notable proposals is the adoption of financial risk checks, which will assess gamblers’ financial capacity to engage in gambling, with a partial reliance on Open Banking technology.
Emma Gibbons, PayPlan’s Vulnerability Leader, emphasized the need to discuss the issue: “It’s important that we increase conversations within society around gambling harm and make sure that people have a better perception of those experiencing gamble-related debt.
“Through our relationship with GamCare, we’ve been able to develop appropriate pathways into debt advice and regularly carry out training to the wider financial services sector to help them ensure they’re up to date with the latest information and advice,” she added.
Raminta Diliso, Financial Harm Manager at GamCare, part of the National Gambling Support Network, said: “Harmful gambling and debt can often go hand-in-hand, and our latest data shows that 76% of people seeking support from GamCare are experiencing financial difficulties. We continue our collaborative work with PayPlan, which includes staff training and establishing referral pathways between both organizations.
“As part of this work, we have also reviewed all client communications to ensure that the language used is non-judgmental, which we hope will help shift the dial on the stigma surrounding gambling and debt. Our Money Guidance Service offers one-to-one budgeting and financial support for people who experience gambling harms. To find out about getting referred, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133,” she said.