GambleAware says demand for treatment almost doubled since 2020

GambleAware says demand for treatment almost doubled since 2020

Summary

GambleAware’s Annual Treatment and Support Survey 2024, carried out by YouGov, shows a substantial rise in help-seeking and problem gambling in Great Britain since 2020. The share of adults who gamble and want treatment, support or advice has risen from around one in five in 2020 to almost one in three in 2024. Estimated problem gambling prevalence rose from 2.4% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2024. The survey also finds 4.3 million adults are affected by someone else’s gambling and flags prize draws as a growing concern for normalising gambling behaviour among young people.

Key Points

1. Demand for treatment/support among adults who gamble nearly doubled: ~1 in 3 now want help (vs ~1 in 5 in 2020).
2. Estimated problem gambling prevalence increased from 2.4% (2020) to 3.8% (2024).
3. 4.3 million adults (8.1%) are affected by a friend or family member’s gambling, up from 6.5% in 2020.
4. Prize draws (e.g. Omaze, McDonald’s Monopoly) are linked to gambling risk; ~1 in 9 experiencing problem gambling related to prize draws.
5. Strong public support for stricter advertising limits: 91% back TV/video game ad bans and 90% favour social media ad bans.
6. GambleAware calls for tougher regulation: mandatory health warnings, stricter digital marketing controls, and a ban on stadium/sports venue promotion.
7. Survey estimates around 2 million children may live with an adult experiencing problem gambling.

Content Summary

The report presents rising treatment demand and higher estimated prevalence as potential signs of a growing public-health problem. GambleAware welcomed increased help-seeking but warned normalisation of gambling, especially via prize draws and pervasive advertising, is heightening risk exposure for young people. The charity urges urgent preventative action and new regulations to curb advertising and introduce health warnings. Industry voices warn that heavy-handed restrictions could push consumers towards an expanding black market.

Context and Relevance

This research lands amid ongoing UK policy debates over gambling regulation, advertising restrictions and child protection. The findings strengthen calls from campaigners for tighter ad rules and regulatory reform, and will be relevant to policymakers, operators, public-health bodies and child-protection groups. The clear public backing for ad limits signals political leeway for tougher measures, while the industry’s black-market argument frames the practical trade-offs regulators must consider.

Why should I read this?

Quick take: if you work in policy, public health, gambling operations or youth protection, this is worth a read. It spells out shifting public sentiment, rising harm indicators and concrete asks for new rules — all things that will affect regulation, advertising practice and reputational risk. We skimmed the detail so you don’t have to — but the numbers and recommendations matter if you want to stay ahead of likely policy change.

Author style

Punchy — this data isn’t just background noise: it amplifies a clear trend and pushes regulators towards action. If you care about consumer protection or regulatory risk, pay attention to the recommendations and the public appetite for tighter controls.

Source

Source: https://next.io/news/regulation/gambleaware-demands-treatment-doubled-2020/