After a survey by GambleAware revealed that up to one million women in the UK may be at risk of gambling-related damage, the organisation has launched a new campaign emphasizing the primary warning signals of problem gambling for women.
GambleAware Launches Campaign to Protect Women Gamblers
The new campaign aims to raise awareness of three key warning indicators among women:
- Losing track of time
- Spending more than one can afford
- Keeping gambling hidden from friends and family are all warning signals
while directing them to relevant resources.
According to figures from the responsible gambling organization, the number of women seeking gambling treatment has doubled in the last five years, rising from 1,134 in 2015/16 to 2,424 in 2020/21.
GambleAware has responded by launching its first-ever female-focused harms prevention campaign to educate women about warning signals and where to get help before gaming becomes detrimental.
The number of women seeking gambling treatment has doubled in the last five years, rising from 1,134 in 2015/16 to 2,424 in 2020/21.
The campaign will kick off with a video featuring television personality Angellica Bell chatting with gambling and health specialists to highlight the stigma around women affected by the gaming experience.
"Our research shows women may not be aware they are starting to experience harm from gambling or may be worried about reaching out for support due to stigma or shame," said Zoë Osmond, GambleAware Chief Executive.
She then went on to say that this statistic is why the campaign emphasizes the warning indicators to watch for so that GambleAware can help women gamblers and prevent them from becoming addicted to gambling.
There Is Still Stigma Around Gambling Problems
According to GambleAware, 39% of women may avoid seeking help or treatment for problem gambling because of perceived stigma, shame, or simply not wanting others to know about their betting habits.
"I welcome this campaign to increase awareness of problem gambling among women. We must continue to do all we can to protect those at risk from gambling-related harm", commented Gambling Minister Chris Philp.
"The gambling landscape has evolved immeasurably in the past 15 years, and our comprehensive gambling act review will ensure our gambling laws offer the right balance of protection in the digital age," said he.
Health Minister Gillian Keegan also commented on GambleAware's initiative by saying that "the economic costs of harmful gambling may be stark, but the cost to individuals and those around them as a result of their addiction cannot be overstated".
Commitment to Safe Gambling
GambleAware's campaign is an excellent approach to raise awareness about the dangers of gambling and how they can affect an individual's friends and family. Dangerous gambling in its tracks can be halted by emphasizing early warning signs, supporting women, and providing guidance.
