Children Gambling Highlighted By New GambleAware Drive
A new GambleAware campaign that highlighted children in the UK engaging in underage betting has raised a national debate over the issue.
Children gambling in the UK has been highlighted by GambleAware. © Leon-Pascal Jc, Unsplash
Key Facts:
- A new installation has been unveiled at Westfield London
- It has 85,000 poker chips, which is one for each child aged 11-17 who is currently experiencing gambling harm
- British racing driver Nicolas Hamilton shared his experience
- Bodies like the Football Supporters Association (FSA) back the new campaign from GambleAware
GambleAware has unveiled a new installation at Westfield London showing 85,000 poker chips.
The body, which describes itself as the leading charity working to tackle gambling harms in Great Britain, says this represents the number of children aged 11-17 who are currently experiencing gambling-related harm.
According to GambleAware, this figure has doubled since 2023, and it is therefore stating anyone could be at risk of harm from gambling, including children.
It has also produced new research conducted by the polling firm YouGov that shows more than two thirds of the public (67%) feel there is a stigma around the issue of gambling, which may prevent people from seeking help or advice over the problem.
National Conversation
The chief executive of GambleAware, Zoe Osmond, has called for a national conversation about gambling harm and said there needs to be an “open dialogue” around the issue.
She said in a statement: “Our daily lives are inundated with gambling advertising and marketing, normalising what is a risky activity which can have a huge negative effect on people’s lives, even children. This installation representing the 85,000 children affected aims to shine a light on this pressing issue and encourage meaningful dialogue.”
Advertising is a particular problem, according to GambleAware, with sports betting companies among those spending heavily on ads to bring in customers.
GambleAware’s new data shows 62% of the public say gambling advertising is now “everywhere” while almost two in five (39%) respondents to the study say they see it at least twice a day.
Nearly a third (31%) of British adults who took part in the research commissioned by GambleAware remembered having seen their first gambling advert before the age of 17.
Fear And Shame
British racing driver Nicholas Hamilton is among those to have spoken about their experience with gambling-related harms as a young person.
Hamilton said he started by placing a small bet on a football match but that his gambling “quickly spiralled out of control”.
He added this led to “a cycle of fear, shame, and losses that brought me to experience the darkest point in my life” and said: “Gambling harm can happen to anyone – it doesn’t discriminate based on age, background, or circumstance.”
“Gambling advertising is everywhere in day-to-day life, from sport sponsorships to online and TV adverts, and it’s frightening how easily people can be drawn in, even children.”
The FSA, which has backed GambleAware’s work on gambling for over five years, is among the organisations supporting the new campaign.
FSA deputy chief executive David Rose said: “We know there are lots of fans out there who enjoy placing a bet at the weekend and celebrating their winnings with mates – but harm from gambling is a very real issue in this country affecting millions, and the sad reality is that many don’t feel able to open up and talk about the difficult side of the experience.”
