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New Data Reveals 24% Increase In Calls To Gambling Helpline
New data has revealed a concerning uptick in individuals seeking assistance for gambling-related issues via the national helpline last year.
New data has revealed a concerning uptick in individuals seeking assistance for gambling-related issues via the national helpline last year. In 2023, an astounding 52,370 individuals reached out to the National Gambling Helpline, seeking information, support, and counseling—a significant 24 percent increase from the previous year’s tally of approximately 42,000 calls.
Many of these calls came from concerned individuals seeking assistance for someone grappling with gambling-related challenges. Additionally, a notable number of problem gamblers expressed difficulties in enjoying television time with their families during the holiday season due to the prevalence of gambling advertisements.
Editor-in-Chief at NoDepositCasino.guide, Claire Mattfield has given her spin on this:
‘Alarming as this statistic might be, it may also indicate something positive: gamblers are acknowledging they may have a problem and are deciding to seek help. Thus, an increase in calls may not necessarily mean an increase in gambling addiction, but an increase in those who choose to control possibly addictive behavior.’
The introduction of seven new specialized treatment clinics by the health service last year underscores the country’s commitment to combatting gambling addiction. Furthermore, in October of the same year, the government proposed exploring the implementation of a new levy on gambling companies, potentially reaching up to 1 percent. This proposal aims to generate £100 million annually to fund research, prevention, and treatment initiatives targeting gambling addiction.
Combating The Issue
Claire Murdoch, the Mental Health Director of NHS England, addressed the findings, characterizing gambling addiction as a “cruel mental health condition” with the capacity to devastate lives. She underscored the NHS’s operation of 12 gambling harm clinics dedicated to treating gambling-related issues. Murdoch highlighted a significant uptick in referrals to NHS gambling clinics, with 1,389 referrals recorded from April 2022 to March 2023. This trend reflects a consistent increase in referrals each year, compared to 1,013 referrals in 2021-22 and 785 in 2020-21. She urged individuals affected by gambling addiction to seek assistance.
Samantha Turton, the Head of Remote Support Services at GamCare, acknowledged that while minor increases were customary, the figures for 2023 indicate a “significant surge” in calls. Moreover, Turton observed that despite concerns raised by the data, a higher proportion of calls originated from individuals in the early stages of gambling addiction compared to previous years.
Mitigation is Key
Anna Hargrave, GambleAware’s Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer, pointed out the connection between the introduction of the National Gambling Support Network last year and the recent statistics. She stressed the significance of services dedicated to prevention and early intervention. Hargrave highlighted that once the statutory levy proposed in the Government’s Gambling White Paper is put into effect, funding for such services should be prioritized.
GambleAware echoed these sentiments through its CEO, Zoë Osmond, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing prevention in fund allocation. In cases where this isn’t feasible, Osmond recommended an equitable distribution of funds for both prevention and treatment efforts. Additionally, Osmond proposed appointing a single Prevention and Treatment Commissioner.
The UK Gambling Commission also advocated for “wider funding for research, prevention, and treatment” in its recommendations to the Government regarding the Gambling White Paper’s statutory levy proposal. The Commission emphasized the need for better regulation of gambling advertising and sponsorships, tackling illegal gambling, and addressing other issues not adequately covered by the statutory levy proposal.
Continuous Growth
Last year, GamCare launched its ‘Women’s Chatroom’ platform, providing a secure online space for women affected by gambling harm. The initiative aims to tackle the feelings of guilt and shame often associated with gambling problems by fostering connections, offering support, and facilitating the sharing of experiences among women facing similar challenges.
With its annual National Gambling Helpline assisting over 40,000 individuals, approximately 30% of whom are women, GamCare extended its reach to cater specifically to this demographic, which is often overlooked. Although still in its early stages, the chat room hosts semi-structured sessions every Tuesday from 7 pm to 8 pm for a duration of six weeks, with each session focusing on a distinct theme.
