Children living with individuals affected by problem gambling are four times more likely to develop a gambling addiction in the future, a new study suggests.

GambleAware, the leading charity for gambling harm prevention and treatment, has released its latest Annual Treatment and Support Survey, shedding light on the impact of gambling harm on children and young adults. Worryingly, the new report, marking the fourth survey of its kind, revealed that up to 1.65 million children in Great Britain are currently living with someone experiencing problem gambling.

The charity confirmed that the latest report is based on 18,000 responses collected from an annual survey conducted by YouGov. This new data highlights “patterns related to early exposure to gambling harms,” as explained by GambleAware. In addition to the 1.65 million children exposed to gambling from a young age, the research found that such children are four times more likely to encounter problem gambling later in life.

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, commented on the findings, noting that it is encouraging to see gambling harm being recognised as a serious public health issue. De Souza added: “GambleAware’s latest report demonstrates that there are millions who are at risk and that more needs to be done to protect them.” She emphasised the importance of analysing the impact of gambling on children and young people.

Furthermore, De Souza expressed deep concern about the impact of online gambling and the risks it poses to children. She concluded: “If we allow gambling to be normalised for young people through continued exposure to advertising and gambling activities in online games, we risk a long-term impact on their lives – on their mental or physical health, relationships or financial wellbeing.”

The Charity Reiterates the Importance of a Gambling Advertising Ban

Zoë Osmond, chief executive of GambleAware, echoed the concerns raised by De Souza. She revealed that the findings of the recent report “highlight the impact of the normalisation of gambling across society on individuals, families and communities.”

Osmond stated that the latest release of GambleAware’s Treatment and Support Survey reaffirms a worrying trend that links early exposure to gambling activities with heightened risks of gambling harm later in life. “Gambling harms can affect anyone, which is why it is so important that we break down the stigma associated with it and encourage people to come forward and talk about gambling harm,” Osmond added.

In response to the results of the new research, GambleAware has once again called for the implementation of a “robust national prevention strategy, including increased regulation on gambling advertising such as mandatory health warnings, and a public health approach that incorporates prevention, early intervention, effective treatment and aftercare.”

According to the charity, a ban on gambling advertising could be a crucial step in effectively combating gambling harm and problem gambling, while enhanced health warnings could further raise awareness of the issue.