Recent research carried out by a leading advice charity revealed that Glasgow was the city featuring the highest gambling-related harm rate in the territory of Scotland.
The analysis, provided by GambleAware, revealed that fewer people in Scotland were accessing professional treatment and help for their problem gambling behaviour, especially in comparison to the number of people who did so on a national level. According to estimates provided by the largest charity that helps problem gamblers in the UK, 3.5% of people in Glasgow are put at risk as a result of gambling addiction, with the figure being higher than the country’s average.
The research also found that 17% of Scottish people who suffer the negative effects of their compulsive gambling habits in the form of gambling-related harm tend to access support services. On a national level, about 21% of the people did so.
The Glasgow Central constituency had the highest rate within the city. GambleAware revealed that 4.9% of the local residents were part of the highest category of problem gamblers, which means serious gambling addiction. The five areas in Scotland that featured the highest problem gambling rate estimates are Glasgow City, the City of Edinburgh, Aberdeen City, North Lanarkshire, and Dundee City.
Reports revealed that the harms identified in the country-wide survey commissioned by the UK’s largest gambling-focused charity organisation included suffering from deteriorating physical or mental health or generating money losses. The survey also found that 60.5% of Scottish residents had taken part in any form of gambling available in the country last year, with the figure being slightly higher than the national average of 6.3%. This is equivalent to more than 2.7 million adult residents.
GambleAware Willing to Help Scottish People Deal with Gambling-Related Harm
The boss of GambleAware, Zoe Osmond, noted that no one is really safe because gambling harm can affect anyone. That was why campaigners were concerned to see that fewer people in Scotland were actually getting their hands on professional help, treatment and support. As the largest gambling charity in the country, the organisation decided to publish the research data to provide more extensive information about the issue and help people address the need for gambling treatment and support in local communities.
Ms Osmond further explained that some people who are affected by gambling harm may not have reached out for help because they were not sure where to find some. She, however, reminded that anyone who is concerned about their own gambling habits or the gambling habits of a family member or a friend could reach out to GambleAware for free. She also promised confidentiality to people who deal with the negative effects of gambling addiction, saying that such individuals often avoided looking for professional help because they feared the social stigma associated with compulsive gambling behaviour.
GambleAware’s Chief Executive Officer noted that the charity commissioned the National Gambling Support Network, which was an excellent opportunity for people experiencing gambling harm to get access to specialists and customised support and treatment in a quick and efficient manner, no matter where they were in the country.
- Author
Daniel Williams
