GambleAware Highlights Significant Increase in People Seeking Gambling Harm Help
Summary
GambleAware’s Annual Treatment and Support Survey 2024 reveals a marked rise in people seeking help for gambling harm in Great Britain. The proportion of gambling adults who sought help rose from 17% in 2020 to 30% in 2024. The charity warns this reflects a real increase in harm — an estimated 3.8% of British adults are now experiencing gambling-related harm (up from 2.4% in 2020).
The survey also flags growing numbers affected indirectly: contacts from people impacted by a loved one’s gambling rose from 6% to 8% (around 4.3 million adults), and GambleAware estimates up to 2 million children may live with an adult experiencing problem gambling. Public backing for tougher advertising controls is very high, with 91% supporting a ban on TV and video-game gambling ads and 90% favouring a ban on gambling ads on social media.
New concerns centre on prize draws. GambleAware found that 27% of those at risk of problem gambling take part in prize draws, and about 11% of people who gamble may be experiencing harm specifically because of prize draws. Since prize draws aren’t regulated like gambling, the charity warns they can mirror real-money chance games and normalise gambling for young people.
GambleAware CEO Zoë Osmond called for stronger action: she warned that gambling is being normalised (especially among young people), urged clearer messaging about harms, tighter regulation of ads, sponsorships and products, and recommended banning on-stadium promotions. The charity is preparing for managed closure as UK gambling reforms progress.
Source
Key Points
- The share of gambling adults seeking help jumped from 17% (2020) to 30% (2024).
- Estimated proportion of British adults experiencing gambling harm rose to 3.8% (from 2.4% in 2020).
- Contacts from people harmed by a loved one’s gambling increased from 6% to 8% — roughly 4.3 million adults; up to 2 million children may live in affected households.
- Strong public support for ad restrictions: 91% back banning TV/video-game gambling ads; 90% support banning gambling ads on social media.
- Prize draws are linked to harm: 27% of those at risk take part in prize draws; ~11% of gamblers may be harmed specifically by prize draws.
- GambleAware warns prize draws are unregulated, can mimic gambling and normalise gambling among children and young people.
- CEO Zoë Osmond urges tougher regulation of ads, sponsorships, products and a ban on on-stadium promotions; GambleAware is preparing for managed closure amid reforms.
Why should I read this?
Quick heads-up: this isn’t just another stat piece — it shows harm is growing and that everyday promotions (like prize draws and ads) are part of the problem. If you care about public health, advertising rules, or how gambling is being normalised for young people, this is worth a skim — and maybe action.
Author style
Punchy: the findings are important. They show a clear upward trend in help-seeking and highlight weak regulatory gaps (prize draws, pervasive ads). Read the detail if you want the numbers and the policy asks — it frames what regulators, industry stakeholders and community groups will need to tackle next.