GambleAware has released new findings estimating that more than 5 million adults in Great Britain want to reduce or quit gambling, with the majority seeking change despite not meeting criteria for problem gambling.

 

The figures come from the charity’s 2024 Treatment and Support Survey, conducted by YouGov and presented earlier this year. 

The results, according to GambleAware, reflect a growing willingness among the public to explore tools designed to alleviate gambling-related risks. 

According to the analysis, 60.8% of adults in Great Britain reported gambling within the past year.  

When weighted against mid-2024 population data, this equates to 32.5 million gamblers, of whom 5.3 million expressed a desire to curb or stop their gambling.  

GambleAware said 73.8% of this group, approximately 3.9 million people, showed no indication of problem gambling on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.  

The charity identified a particularly pronounced trend among young adults, noting that roughly three in ten gamblers aged 18 to 34 expressed a desire to reduce or quit gambling, representing about 2.3 million people. 

The organisation said the findings highlight a widespread appetite for early support and the importance of prevention services. Its national tools and digital resources have seen significant uptake over the past two years.  

CEO Anna Hargrave said the scale of people seeking change demonstrates the ongoing demand for accessible support.  

She stressed that assistance remains available through the charity and the wider support network for anyone concerned about their own gambling or the gambling of someone close to them. 

 

Service Finder sees uptick in activity 

GambleAware’s Service Finder, launched in July 2024, has recorded more than 42,000 searches for help and over 13,000 referral clicks to treatment providers, including those in the National Gambling Support Network.  

That network, established in April 2023 and made up of 13 organisations, offers prevention, treatment, and aftercare services across the country. 

GambleAware also reported continued demand for its online assessment features. Since April 2023, more than 87,000 people have completed the charity’s Self-Assessment tool, which provides guidance and access to confidential support. 

The Spend Calculator, introduced in December 2023 to help users understand their gambling habits and compare them with the Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines, has been completed nearly 6,000 times.  

Those guidelines recommend gambling no more than 1% of monthly income, limiting gambling activity to four days per month, and avoiding more than two types of gambling within the same timeframe. 

The charity said these tools are central to helping people understand and manage their gambling behaviours during a transition to the new statutory gambling harms system, which is scheduled for completion in April of next year.  

GambleAware is working with incoming commissioners to ensure continuity of services throughout the shift. 

 

 

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