Gambling addiction could be nine times higher than industry claims

theguardian.com:

Gambling addiction rates may be nine times higher than the betting industry claims, according to a landmark study that found 1.4 million people are being harmed by their own gambling, while a further 1.5 million are at risk.

Published with the government weeks away from unveiling plans for a once-in-a-generation reform of gambling laws, the survey is part of a push by leading charity GambleAware to encourage more people to seek treatment.

The online survey of more than 18,000 adults conducted in 2021 found that up to 2.8% of the population scored eight or higher on the problem gambling severity index, a measure used by experts to gauge harm suffered by individual gamblers.

The rate rises significantly among men, with 3.7% deemed to have a problem and 7.5% at risk, indicating that more than a 10th of men are either struggling with gambling or in danger of doing so. Among women, addiction rates were 2%, with 4% in the at-risk category.

Women were more likely to be among the 6% of the population, or 3.3 million people, classed as “affected others”, meaning that someone else’s gambling had an impact on them.

Despite the high rates found by the survey, just 8,490 people received treatment from the National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS) last year, GambleAware said, suggesting that for every one person receiving help, 160 who could benefit from it did not.

The NGTS comprises services including GamCare, Gordon Moody and the Primary Care Gambling Service, offering confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling harms or problem gambling. Nine out of 10 people who completed treatment an NGTS service saw their condition improve, GambleAware said.

YouGov’s estimate that 2.8% of people are suffering gambling-related