Gambling Commission report: 16-24 year olds “at risk”

The UK Gambling Comission report that 16-24 year olds are twice as likely to be in the “at risk” category compared to the UK population as a whole

According to a recent report published by the UK Gambling Commission, 16-24 year olds are twice as likely to be in the “at risk” category compared to the UK population as a whole, the Independent reports.

Seven per cent of males across the whole adult population are estimated to be “at risk”; a figure that more than doubles to 16 per cent among men between the ages of 16-24.

While females are not dissimilar: across the wider population, just two per cent of women are “at risk”, but like men, this number doubles too in the 16-24 age bracket.

The research is published in a document entitled ‘Further analysis of the Health Survey for England 2012 and Scottish Health Survey 2012’.

The main author of the report, Heather Wardle, who is the director at NatCen Social Research, wants a greater focus on this area in order so “those at risk don’t go on to develop the problem.”

Ms Wardle argues that the increase in the ease of gambling bears some responsibility. Indeed, pointing to the World Cup and the availability of gambling through apps, mobile phones, and the heavy advertising, she said: “You can see how the environment in which people are growing up is changing.”

However, not much research has actually been carried out on the gambling habits of young punters. Despite this, Elaine Smethurst, managing director of a gambling therapy charity, the Gordon Moody Association, said: “We are crying out for more education in schools”. While alcohol, smoking and drugs are covered in the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) curriculum in schools, she argues, that gambling should be, too.

At the same time, the charity reports that the age of its clients is falling. “The traditional age tended to be in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Now we have a sizeable number of clients in their 20s and we are getting people applying to us who are students,” Ms Smethurst said.

At GamCare, the industry-funded support service for problem gamblers, the evidence is slightly different. A site launched that was launched two years ago for 12 to 18 year old gamblers is receiving just ten calls per month to its helpline. However, GamCare’s chief executive, Dirk Hansen, is still concerned about young gamblers. He said: “We have strong concerns about lack of funding on preventative programmes for 11 to 17-year-olds. A lot of teens we talk to want to become gamblers rather than seeing gambling as a risk.”

One challenge that GamCare face is that the industry is continually evolving. In September, the group will be launching a new site that includes a self-assessment tool so people can see if they are at risk.

Another problem that the group faces is that the funding to aid gambling issues comes almost entirely from the gambling industry, rather than the government.

Ms Wardle believes it isn’t only children who could benefit from learning about the dangers of gambling. She thinks that parents must educate their children about the risks of gambling, and not encourage their children to go into seaside arcades on holiday or to have flutters on the Lottery. “Some parents introduce their children to gambling,” she says. “There’s no harm in that necessarily – but, for some, it becomes out of control.”

Other risk factors for problem gambling, according to this research, include religion (with Catholics being more likely to be at-risk gamblers and Muslims less likely), cigarette smoking and increased levels of alcohol consumption.

One particular shock for Ms Wardle and her team was that people in the Black or Black British ethnic groups are five times as likely to be categorised as problem gamblers than Whites. Indeed, they found that, while 0.5 per cent of Whites are classified as problem gamblers, the proportion jumps to 2.5 per cent for Blacks and Black British.

The research also found that sports betting among the population are increasing. Ms Smethurst of the Gordon Moody Association, said:  “There is now a crossover between enjoying watching the sport and gambling on it.”