Gambling with Lives was set up by the families and friends of young people who had taken their own lives as a direct result of gambling. These were all very normal, bright, popular and happy young folk who had great futures ahead of them … gambling was their only problem.
Their deaths were very sudden – “out of the blue” with no warning. They were not the result of massive gambling debts, rather what gambling had done to their hearts and their heads.
No one knows how many deaths are related to gambling each year; but research indicates that there are between 250 and 650 gambling related suicides every year in the UK … a minimum of one every working day.
Gambling with Lives aims to:
-
Support families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicides
-
Raise awareness amongst gamblers, their families and friends, and health professionals of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health and the high suicide risk
If your family has been bereaved by gambling related suicide, please contact us at info@gamblingwithlives.org All media queries to 07565 944 042
Please note that we are a small charity and cannot offer helpline facilities. If you want to speak to someone immediately about a gambling problem have a look at the contacts on our Help page.
NEW PAPER
Gambling with Lives has just published a new paper on:
A Public Health Approach and "Responsible/Safer Gambling"
(Click on title to read the paper)
LATEST RESEARCH - NEW SUMMARY PAPERS
Our research summaries on the Number of Gambling Related Suicides in the UK; Addictive Products; the Inadequacy of Prevalence Measures; and Gambling and Comorbidity are now available on the website.
Click here to access
Recent research by Oxford University on banking data shows:
-
any level of gambling is associated with a risk of harm
-
1 in 4 gamblers are suffering significant gambling harms
-
the heaviest gamblers have a mortality rate over one third higher than non-gamblers
-
it is the proportion of your income that you spend on gambling that is the determinant of harm - not just the absolute amount.
FILMS - just click below
Families bereaved by gambling related suicides talk about their experiences
GAMBLING - SOME KEY FACTS
Click here to access our full Research Brief (May 2018)
-
There are between 340,000 and 1.4 million adult gambling addicts in the UK
-
1 in 4 gamblers are experiencing serious gambling harms
-
Over 60,000 young people aged 11-16 are addicted to gambling
-
UK and international research has found that 4-11% of suicides are related to gambling ... equivalent to 250-650 deaths per year in the UK
-
Research from Sweden found that gambling addicts are 15 times more likely to take their own lives than the general population
-
Gambling addicts are 3-4 times more likely to attempt to kill themselves than other types of addict
-
The heaviest gamblers have a mortality rate over one third higher than non-gamblers
-
Gambling disorder was classified as equivalent to drug and alcohol addictions in 2013
-
Some gambling products are extremely dangerous:
-
Nearly half of people playing casino games online are addicted or at risk
-
27.9% of people gambling online are addicted or at risk
-
-
Only 29% of people think that gambling is fair and can be trusted; 71% think that it is dangerous to family life
-
The industry made over £14 billion gross profit in 18/19 ... but contributed just £10m to pay for research, education and treatment
-
Just 2% of addicts were able to access treatment - compared to 15-20% for drugs and alcohol addictions
-
The GamCare treatment network is not linked to NHS primary care, so that 90% of those who receive treatment are self-referrals
Review of the 2005 Gambling Act - Our Demands
Gambling should be enshrined in law as a public health issue, and government should legislate for precautionary actions that a public health approach entails. Those actions should include:
-
Independent evidence based public health messages about the risks associated with gambling, the specific risks associated with individual gambling products, the addictive nature of products and the risk to mental health.
-
Classifications and licensing conditions for gambling products based on the harm they cause.
-
Dangerous products to be made safer, including through slowing down speeds of play and the application of stake limits.
-
Stringent affordability limits and source of wealth checks that are enforced across gambling operators.
-
An end to all VIP schemes and other inducements to gamble which are deployed by gambling operators to persuade customers to gamble beyond their means and wishes.
-
The rigorous enforcement of gambling age restrictions.
-
An end to all gambling advertising, including sponsorship of sports.
-
A duty of care on the part of gambling operators to protect gamblers from harm.
-
The creation of an independent ombudsman to enforce gambling operators’ duty of care.
-
A statutory levy on gambling operators to pay for independent research, education and treatment which increases substantially the money available for these areas and ensures independence from the gambling industry.
-
Implementation of a comprehensive NHS prevention and treatment programme.
-
Training for front line health and other support workers as well as the broader public health workforce to recognise, diagnose, prevent and treat gambling disorder and harms.
-
A duty on the part of the state to record the number of gambling related suicides.
The BIG STEP continues to lead on work around gambling and football, calling for:
-
An end to gambling advertising, sponsorship and promotion in football.
-
Football clubs to deliver preventative education, awareness and signposting in their community.
We have also joined the Campaign Against Gambling Advertising (CAGA) which is calling for wider action around gambling advertising
Or sign the petition to:
"End all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football"
by clicking
NOW AVAILABLE - just £10 (plus p+p)
You can now support Gambling with Lives by buying and wearing one of our limited edition t-shirts. Demonstrate your support for our work to raise awareness, make gambling safer and improve treatment ... wherever you go!
Contact us at info@gamblingwithlives.org
Sizes - S,M,L,XL; Available in White, Black, Red or Blue
UpCOMING EVENTS
Sat, 06 MarAnywhere you like!