5 Million Adults in Britain Want to Cut Down on Gambling

GambleAware has published new data showing that more than five million adults in Great Britain want to scale back or stop their gambling activity, even though the majority of them do not meet the criteria for problem gambling. The findings are based on the charity’s 2024 Treatment and Support Survey, conducted by YouGov and released earlier this year. The research shows that 60.8% of adults gambled within the past year, amounting to 32.5 million people, and that 5.3 million of them wish to curb their gambling habits. Notably, nearly 74% of this group showed no indications of problem gambling, suggesting a broader cultural shift toward early risk management.

The study highlights a pronounced trend among younger adults. Approximately three in ten gamblers aged 18 to 34 expressed a desire to cut down or quit, representing roughly 2.3 million people. GambleAware says this demonstrates increasing awareness of gambling risks and a preference for early intervention tools.

The charity’s support resources continue to gain momentum. Its Service Finder tool, launched in July 2024, has recorded more than 42,000 searches for assistance and over 13,000 referrals to treatment providers within the National Gambling Support Network. Additionally, the Self-Assessment tool has been used over 87,000 times since April 2023, while the Spend Calculator, introduced in December 2023, has nearly 6,000 completions. These tools provide guidance on gambling behaviour and support users in understanding how their habits compare with Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines.

With the UK preparing to implement its new statutory gambling harms system in April next year, GambleAware emphasises the importance of continuity in support services. The organisation says it is working closely with incoming commissioners to ensure smooth transition and sustained access to resources.