News
Gamblers in debt need better education and joined-up help
14 October 2009
The research, the result of a ground-breaking collaboration between GamCare, the Money Advice Trust (MAT), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and the Salvation Army, found that:
Debts of up to £60,000 might be common amongst problem gamblers
Understanding of problem gambling amongst money advice agencies and in the NHS is extremely low
Awareness of the help available to problem gamblers amongst these agencies and in the NHS, particularly GPs, is equally poor
There is an urgent need to improve education about gambling for young people, alongside or as part of work on financial literacy and understanding chance and risk.
GamCare Chief Executive Andy McLellan said:
“The way in which we and our partners in this research came together to tackle the problem shows that there is a commitment to being joined-up, and demonstrates the importance of co-operation rather than competition between agencies. We must and will build on this. A theme of our annual conference on 19th October (which coincides with the gambling industry’s Responsible Gambling Awareness Day) is about much closer working between third sector agencies and with the NHS.
But it’s not just talk:
We have already run a pathfinder exercise to improve awareness amongst GPs and other agencies in some areas, and have proposals ready to go to spread this across the country as soon as funds are available
We have established a new post - Head of Education Development – to develop a practical and sustainable approach to education. We are talking to the Department for Children, Families and Schools as well and will also draw in the Youth Justice Service and other youth agencies
Our advisers and counsellors already work closely with debt advisers to ensure gamblers get the help they need, when they need it.”
Money Advice Trust Chief Executive Joanna Elson said:
“This is ground breaking work because very little research exists about the links between problem debt and problem gambling. A practical outcome of this work is the development of a simple “screen” that advice agencies might use to help them identify when problem gambling is a cause of debt. This will help us with our vision: reducing the number of people with unmanageable debt”.
The research report also recommended:
Action for banks and the credit industry, including publicising helplines
Linking with the Youth Justice Service and the criminal justice system
A joined-up approach to self-exclusion within the gambling industry
Improving awareness amongst employers of problem gambling and the measures they can take to help their employees, eg using blocking software to prevent employees from gambling at work.
GamCare and the Money Advice Trust will be holding a series of meetings with key players to follow these ideas through.
Press contacts:
Eileen Kinghan, Marketing Director, GamCare 020 7801 7003, eileen@gamcare.org.uk
Beccy Boden Wilks, Press Officer, Money Advice Trust, 0121 410 6277 beccybw@nationaldebtline.co.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The Executive Summary of the report is available here on the GamCare website. The full report “Gambling and Debt Pathfinder Study” will be available from 16 October 2009 on the Money Advice Trust Information Hub and on the GamCare website.
2. GamCare and the Money Advice Trust jointly commissioned the research from ManchesterMetropolitan University in May 2008. The project ran from July 2008 to July 2009 and was supported by the Salvation Army. The following research methods were used:
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173 questionnaires were completed by individuals with current or previous gambling or debt problems.
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17 problem gamblers, one relative of a problem gambler, and three representatives from the credit industry were interviewed.
Problem gambling counsellors, debt advisers, healthcare professionals, representatives of the gambling industry and problem gamblers took part in two regional focus groups.
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Case studies were taken from the GamCare Forum and two money advice websites.
Life-course debt is defined as that acquired as a result of life changes such as redundancy, divorce, death of main breadwinner or other reduction in income.
Gambling-related debt is defined as that said by the individual to have occurred as a result of that individual’s gambling behaviour, ie both gambling debts and those incurred because of prioritising gambling over other expenditure.
3. GamCare, established in 1997, is a registered charity and the leading national provider of counselling, advice and practical help for anyone experiencing or affected by problem gambling. Our online Forum and Chat Rooms offer self-help. Our range of confidential and one-to-one services comprise the national telephone and online helplines, and face to face and online counselling delivered by qualified therapists whom we train specifically in problem gambling counselling.
4. The Money Advice Trust is a registered charity formed in 1991 to increase the quality and availability of free, independent money advice in the UK with a vision to contribute to reducing unmanageable debt amongst UK consumers.
5. a) Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU): a leading university for the professions and a powerful driver of the North West economy. MMU educates and trains large numbers of the region’s legal and business professionals, teachers, health workers and creative professionals. The University enjoys an excellent reputation for teaching, applied research and project work with its communities and the North West, nationally and internationally. It is currently investing almost £300 million in its estate and facilities.
5. b) Research Institute for Health and Social Change RIHSC in MMU is a body of more than 100 researchers who conduct work in health and social care, professional practice development and evaluation, processes and experiences of social inclusion, policy development and social change, and critical theoretical social research.
6. The Salvation Army was established in 1865 as a church and registered charity and is now one the largest and diverse social providers in the UK after the government. The Salvation Army is funded through donations from its members, the general public and, where appropriate, local authority and government grants.