Sam – Head of Advice
Gambling harm reduction
Gambling Harm – Who Can It Affect?
1 in 10 adults in the past year have been significantly affected by gambling harm.
Research has consistently demonstrated that individuals that are: young, male, and that belong to ethnic minority backgrounds, are disproportionately susceptible to gambling disorder.
Gambling disorder (the most severe level of gambling harm from an individual’s own gambling) is between 3 to 5 times more prevalent amongst ethnic minority groups relative to white ethnic groups. Moreover, gambling harm is likely to have a worse impact on those from a minority ethnic background, and this is in part due to differences in cultural attitudes, stigma, and health awareness.
Gambling disorder is also more prevalent amongst 16-24 year olds than in any other age group. In the last gold-standard prevalence survey conducted in 2010, the prevalence of gambling disorder according to PGSI among 16-24 year olds was at 2.0% (males: 2.7%, females 1.2%), whereas the prevalence by PGSI of the whole population was measured at 1.0% (males: 1.7%, females 0.3%).
Finding Recovery
If you are suffering from gambling harm, support and treatment is available.
“Understanding the role gambling plays in your life can be the first step in making changes to reduce the harm it causes. It is unlikely that there will be a single answer, and you may need a combination of strategies to make lasting changes. You are more likely to be successful if you have support from others.”
For free information, advice and support you can contact NHS Southern Gambling Services on SouthernGamblingService@southernhealth.nhs.uk
Also, the NHS Live Well website contains advice and signposting to other free treatment and support options. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/gambling-addiction/
Also, feel free to check out ‘The All Bets Are Off Podcast’, which has over 50 hours of gambling addiction recovery content covering a wide range of discussion points, including everything from recovery stories and signposting.
Finally, if you are concerned that gambling may be affecting your academic or finances, please speak to us at The Advice Centre – advice@susu.org.