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The National Gambling Treatment Service has released some fascinating stats this morning.
They lay bare the misery of gambling addiction but also how few people are actually receiving treatment. [THREAD]
They lay bare the misery of gambling addiction but also how few people are actually receiving treatment. [THREAD]
Just 9,008 people received care in the year to the end of March 2020. That's up from 7,675 last year but still:-
- Less than 3% of problem gamblers in England alone, according to the NHS Health Survey.
- Just 0.6% if you take YouGov's much higher estimate of nearly 1.4m.
- Less than 3% of problem gamblers in England alone, according to the NHS Health Survey.
- Just 0.6% if you take YouGov's much higher estimate of nearly 1.4m.
Of those being treated:-
- 45% had racked up debts of more than £5000, were bankrupt, or going through a debt repayment scheme.
- They had spent a median average of more than £2000 in the month prior to receiving treatment. It's closer to £1000 if you take the mean.
- 45% had racked up debts of more than £5000, were bankrupt, or going through a debt repayment scheme.
- They had spent a median average of more than £2000 in the month prior to receiving treatment. It's closer to £1000 if you take the mean.
More than a quarter said they had lost a relationship due to their gambling problem, while 12% had lost a job.
While the vast majority of people in treatment showed improvement, 40% of those who completed it were still classed as problem gamblers (PGSI score of 8+) at the end.
While the vast majority of people in treatment showed improvement, 40% of those who completed it were still classed as problem gamblers (PGSI score of 8+) at the end.
A quarter of those being treated were not receiving treatment for the first time, indicating relapse.
The majority were male (75%) but the number of women in treatment has increased significantly lately, up from 19% in 2016 to 25%.
The majority were male (75%) but the number of women in treatment has increased significantly lately, up from 19% in 2016 to 25%.
Addicts are increasingly likely to gamble online, up from 57% to 69%, rather that in bookmakers, down from 56% to 38%.
The most popular product was online slot machines, used by 26% of them, followed by online sports betting at 25%, with fixed-odds betting terminals third on 20%
The most popular product was online slot machines, used by 26% of them, followed by online sports betting at 25%, with fixed-odds betting terminals third on 20%
An increasing number of people in treatment are not gamblers themselves but “affected others”, meaning they were being harmed by someone else’s habit. Earlier this year, YouGov estimated that as many as 7% of adults, or 3.6m are negatively affected by another person’s habit.
Any way you look at it, these are concerning stats.
GambleAware, which compiles the data and is the conduit for most funding of treatment, is hailing improvements in success of what care there is. There are some positive trends but it's still a grim picture.
Story to follow...
GambleAware, which compiles the data and is the conduit for most funding of treatment, is hailing improvements in success of what care there is. There are some positive trends but it's still a grim picture.
Story to follow...
