The recently released Health Survey for England included gambling questions for the first time. Survey results indicated in the past 12 months, 68 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women had participated in a gambling activity. On average, men took part in more types of gambling than women. However, less than one per cent of men and just 0.2 per cent of women were identified as problem gamblers according to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders.
The most popular forms of gambling in England are the National Lottery, followed by scratch cards, playing other lotteries and horserace wagering. Gambling is most prevalent among those aged 25-64, primarily among younger age groups.
Some communities are becoming more proactive in offering help for problem gamblers, such as Gloucestershire, where the number of people with gambling addiction has nearly doubled to more than 5,000 since 2007, according to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. But th charity counseling service, Gamcare, will offer free help through their offices in Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester and the Forest of Dean.
Peter Walker, chief executive of the Addiction Recovery Agency, who is assisting with the Gamcare launch, said, “It is easier and more available to gamble now. The biggest is the National Lottery and there are so many multifaceted forms of gambling now that have become part of the issue. A lot of gambling is hidden, and people with a problem may keep it to themselves. We only see them when it has got quite out of hand. That may be part of the reason why the problem has got worse.”
Gary Dale, manager of David James bookmakers in Gloucester, agreed. “It is like any addiction, the person needs to want to seek help.”
