The social impact of problem gambling

Gambling is a dangerous activity. There are many who suffer the consequences of dealing with problem gambling, though for a large amount of people, gambling can be relatively harmless. According to the Gambling Commissions Gambling Prevalence Survey there are at least a quarter of a million problem gamblers in the UK today, which is comparable to the rate of hard drug addicts.

The figures above, simply account for those showing signs of addiction. It is hard to estimate how many more people are affected by problem gambling, but in each of the stories a number of other people had to suffer because of problem gambling. Family members have to bear the loss of their house. Many have to repay debt for years. Others suffer psychologically because of the withdrawal of an addict into gambling and away from familiar intimacy. Trust between employer and employee can also break down. A recent study you can read about here showed that the annual loss in productivity in the UK because people gambling online at work is £306 million.

There is a high likelihood that the number of problem gamblers will have increased by the next time the government measures gambling behaviour (in the forthcoming gambling prevalence survey in 2011) because of the proliferation of advertising and the increase of gambling opportunities on the internet. This is particularly worrying because a secondary study of the data from the most recent gambling prevalence survey shows that there may be a higher risk associated with problem gambling on the internet than in tradition forms of gambling. You can read that study on the Gambling Commissions website here.

Support for problem gamblers

There are a number of organizations in the UK that help people with problem gambling and addiction.

Gamblers Anonymous is similar to the equivalent organisation for alcoholics and they follow a comparable sort of group therapy structure.

GamCare is an organization that has both an online chat resource a phone line for people who believe they, or a loved one, might have a gambling addiction and want to talk to a counsellor. They also offer a forum for posting personals stories.

Neither of these organizations are explicitly Christian but they do offer very good quality help and support. They don’t take a position on whether gambling is morally wrong or whether it should be restricted more heavily in society. This is mainly because they do not wish to alienate the people who are seeking help.

The Salvation Army also offers help and counselling for a broad base of many different addictions including alcohol, drugs and gambling.

The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation based in London also offers support for problem gamblers.

Grasp is a web based self help group of current of former problem gamblers who have decided to campaign for a tighter regulatory framework with regards to UK gambling law.

If you or somebody you know has a problem with compulsive gambling please do get in touch with one of these organizations.