The UK Gambling Commission has released a qualitative research report offering insights into how people experience gambling-related harm. Conducted by NatCen with support from the Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), the study aims to help regulators and support groups better understand the causes and patterns of gambling harm.
Personal Journeys and Early Exposure
The study is based on 25 in-depth interviews with people who experienced serious gambling harm in the past year. Many participants said their gambling journeys began early—often during childhood or adolescence—either by watching family members gamble or participating themselves. While financial issues were the most common early impact, some reported emotional or relationship problems appearing first.
How Harm Develops and What Influences It
Gambling patterns varied widely. For some, harm increased over time, while others remained stable. Factors like income, job loss, or life transitions played a major role in how their gambling behavior evolved. Peer pressure, advertising, mental health issues, and cultural displacement also emerged as strong influences.
A 25–34-year-old male participant described how limited work opportunities led him back to gambling: “You can only work 20 hours a week as a student. When you need money, you don’t really have a lot of options. I thought maybe I could go back to gambling and see if I could make money out of it.”
The Harmful Cycle and Help-Seeking
Many described how financial loss, mental health challenges, and strained relationships fed into each other, creating a harmful cycle. Some participants eventually turned to self-exclusion tools, budgeting strategies, or support from others—but often only after reaching a breaking point.
A woman in the same age group said: “I’ve got more self-control now. A few years ago, I would have kept going. Now, I know when to stop, and I know about the tools sites offer.”
Still, others questioned the usefulness of these tools. One participant commented: “They say the tools are there to help, but deep down they know most people will carry on gambling anyway.”
Conclusion
The study concludes that gambling harm often starts subtly and grows over time, with serious consequences for some individuals. While every journey is different, the common thread is that gambling often begins as a seemingly harmless activity—until it isn’t.
