A new campaign aiming to help women who may be the target of problem gambling and feel uncomfortable looking for help was launched by GambleAware. The new campaign by the charity organisation will focus on raising awareness among women who are exposed to excessive amounts of gambling.
The new GambleAware initiative was a response to a recent study by the charity, which revealed that 24% of females between the age of 18 and 49 in the UK who gamble are expected to spend more on gambling in the upcoming months. The reason they have given for the increase was the surging costs of living.
Increasing Number of Women Gamble to Earn Additional Income
The GambleAware survey also showed that 12% of the women who gamble reported having started this type of activity to earn extra income for their households. About 21% of the respondents experienced anxiety and stress, with fears about the upcoming winter, which is typically the period of increased online gambling, causing a spike in gambling harm among women.
Considering the concerning results of the recent survey, Zoë Osmond, chief executive of GambleAware, underlined how important it was to raise awareness about gambling harm among women. Osmond also stressed that the increasing number of women gambling online may create a serious surge in the number of women experiencing gambling harm.
According to Osmond, the stigma around seeking help with gambling issues must be broken down as it deters many women from seeking much-needed help. Osmond recommended women experiencing some sort of gambling-related distress seek help on the official website of the charity BeGambleAware.com or through the National Gambling Helpline.
Women Do Not Seek Help Due to Stigma and Shame
About 1,600 women who gamble participated in the recent survey, with the majority of them sharing that the stigma and shame surrounding gambling were the main factors preventing them from seeking help. Some 32% of respondents admitted that they would not be willing to share their gambling-related issues with family members or partners, with 49% of the women feeling too ashamed to communicate their problems.
Another important result from the survey showed that 63% of women were convinced that it was less acceptable for women to gamble rather than for men. The survey also revealed that 19% of correspondents were either downplaying their gambling or they were simply hiding it.
According to Dr Linda Papadopoulus, head psychologist and spokesperson for the newly launched campaign of GambleAware, it is crucial for women to share their gambling-related concerns. Although she acknowledged the difficulty of expressing such issues, Dr Papadopoulos warned about the importance of seeking help on time, before small concerns develop into much more serious gambling harm.
A worrying result from the survey showed that almost a quarter of participants in the survey were already showing some signs of gambling harm. About 22% of respondents were losing track of time, 39% were overspending money on gambling, and 25% were gambling in secret.
A part of the newly launched campaign of the charity organisation offers a dedicated online resource providing advice on ways to initiate the right conversions. The full content on the issue is available on GambleAware’s official website.
- Author
Olivia Cole
