A Pressing Issue
GambleAware has launched an art installation of a cowering boy at Westfield London in White City. The purpose of the installation is to highlight how anybody can be impacted by gambling, including children.
The art is depicted via 85,000 gambling chips with each representing a child between 11 and 17-years old experiencing harm from their own gambling habits in 2024. A figure that is reportedly double 2023’s results.
Zoe Osmond, the GambleAware CEO, said that the charity is trying to shine a light on the pressing issue and encourage meaningful dialogue around it.
The art comes off the back of a new study released by GambleAware revealing that stigma around gambling addiction may prevent those affected from seeking help. The survey also found the public has issues around young people gambling and gambling marketing.
GambleAware Study
According to research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of GambleAware, nearly two-thirds of adults in Great Britain believe there is a stigma around gambling problems. The stigma or the belief in the stigma is a significant barrier for people experiencing problem gambling in Britain.
The public also demonstrated concern about the frequency of advertising in Britain. 62% of those who took the survey said that gambling adverts are everywhere. 39% said they see ads twice a day, every single day. While around a third of participants recall seeing their first gambling advert before the age of 17.
Ms Osmond warned that the pervasive marketing may lead to the normalisation of gambling amongst younger audiences. She described our lives as inundated with gambling marketing. The majority of people responding to the survey agree as 62% said they believe gambling advertising increases the likelihood of gambling harm. 72% would be in support of stricter regulation in order to limit people’s exposure.
The study surveyed 3,058 adults, including 750 individuals who were judged as experiencing gambling issues by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). It found that people dealing with gambling harm often suffer in silence. 28% of those facing gambling-related issues admit to hiding their behaviour from family and friends. Of those judged as suffering the most harm, 24% said shame and embarrassment keeps them from seeking help.
Encouragement to Seek Help
Ms Osmond responded to the findings by asking people to be open and to seek help if they need it. She said that there should be a national conversation about gambling harm, a belief shared by the Football Supporters’ Association and the National Gambling Support Network. She added that people will only feel empowered to get help if an open dialogue is encouraged.
The evidence-based charity is also calling for more awareness around gambling harm from the wider public. The survey found that nearly half the respondents said they wouldn’t be confident supporting someone with gambling-related issues.
Steps like the art installation can help get people talking, which helps to reduce the stigma around gambling addiction. This, in turn, can then lead to more people finding help when they need it.
