GamCare: Cost-of-living crisis a catalyst for increased gambling-related harm
YouGov and GamCare research reveals worrying excess gambling trends as people’s personal finances are squeezed
People gambling at harmful levels are seven times more like to gamble more over the next 12 months as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis, a study has shown.
According to research commissioned by GamCare and conducted by YouGov, the charity found 42% of those gambling at harmful levels said they would be betting more, compared to just 6% of the UK population.
Additionally, people gambling at harmful levels were four times more likely to chase their losses compared to the general public.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite in the UK amid soaring food and energy costs and rampant inflation, the research also revealed the link between those struggling with daily living expenses and gambling.
Parents who had gambled at harmful levels were almost three times more likely to have struggled to buy children’s school uniforms in the past 12 months than parents overall.
Half of these parents said they had also gone without essentials like food or not washed clothes to afford something for their child in the past 12 months.
Source: GamCare
Following the disclosure of the research, GamCare announced it was nationally rolling out its new money guidance service.
The scheme was piloted in Leeds and the East Midlands earlier this year and will now be available to consumers across the country.
The guidance will include advice on helping people understand their spending habits, manage their budgets and to recognise spending triggers.
Anna Hemmings, GamCare CEO, said: “The rising cost-of-living is continuing to impact some sections of society harder than others, and the data from YouGov shows the challenges are particularly acute for people experiencing gambling harms.
“What we are still seeing is a proportion of those who are hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis being the ones looking towards gambling to ease their money worries,” she added.
Hemmings went on to note that the launch of the new guidance service would go some way to helping people manage their relationship with gambling.
She continued: “We hope with the launch of our money guidance service that more people can explore their relationship with gambling, but also have an opportunity to get a deeper understanding of how gambling could affect their finances going forward.”