SBC News

GamCare has issued a public warning as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May), drawing attention to the often-overlooked psychological toll gambling takes on those closest to the person gambling.

The charity, which provides support to people affected by gambling-related harm, is using the national awareness campaign to highlight a message that is frequently overshadowed: “Gambling doesn’t only affect the person who gambles, but also the people around them.”

Partners, family members, friends and even colleagues can all be impacted by someone else’s gambling behaviour.

According to GamCare, the emotional and mental toll can include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and a profound sense of stress. Financial strain, secrecy, and trust issues can also erode relationships and leave individuals feeling isolated or unable to speak out.

“It’s not uncommon for loved ones to experience a complex mix of emotions,” the organisation stated. “Shame, anger, guilt and helplessness are all typical, particularly when someone is trying to support a person who continues to gamble despite the harm it’s causing.”

To address this, GamCare offers a range of services for affected others. A weekly Family and Friends Chatroom, held every Tuesday from 10am to 11:30am, provides a confidential and supportive online space for individuals to share experiences, seek advice, and connect with others in similar situations. The organisation also runs a 24-hour helpline and live chat for those in need of immediate assistance.

GamCare encourages open, non-confrontational communication as a starting point. Rather than accusatory language, it suggests using statements such as “I feel worried about our finances” to express concerns in a constructive way. The charity also urges individuals to establish boundaries, particularly around money, to help protect their own wellbeing.

As the focus of Mental Health Awareness Week turns to how external factors can impact mental health, GamCare is making a clear case that gambling-related harm must be understood as a wider issue — not just one affecting individuals, but entire support networks.

Those affected by someone else’s gambling can contact GamCare’s National Helpline free and confidentially, 24 hours a day, on 0808 80 20 133 or via live chat at www.gamcare.org.uk.

The University of Staffordshire and GamCare have called for more UK prison reforms to address rising gambling harm rates among inmates.

Research commissioned by the university, co-funded by GamCare and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Services (HMPPS), revealed that gambling harm is becoming increasingly more prevalent among those part of the UK prison system.

Not only that, but the impulsive behaviour can also be a problem for people under probation supervision, becoming a prominent risk factor for entering debt, homelessness or reverting back to crime, inevitably leading to a repeat incarceration of those under the probation bracket.

Within prison walls, the research highlighted that problem gambling can also lead to prisoners becoming a victim of violence themselves. This was especially pronounced in Wales’ male prisons, affecting 11% of respondents.

The majority of inmates across all UK prisons also revealed that they have never been asked whether they’re affected by gambling.

Associate Professor Sarah Page, Research Lead, said: “Gambling harm is a somewhat hidden crisis affecting people across our prisons and probation services. Our research highlights the urgent need for consistent, effective support services for those harmed by gambling — whether directly or indirectly.”

What is the solution
The university, together with GamCare, now recommends that a mandatory problem gambling recognition training be rolled out for staff across all HMMPS prisons, with lived experience contributions taking a central role in the approach.

In the UK, industry shareholders that can proactively participate in the coordination of such training are plentiful, with widely-recognised national networks – such as Deal Me Out, EPIC Global Solutions, or Gordon Moody – carrying a lot of experience in this area.

Additionally, there could be another reason as to why now might be a good time to consider such action – namely the Gambling Review White Paper’s RET statutory levy, which will unlock an additional £100m in funding for national problem gambling initiatives.

All in all, across the total 15 recommendations made, the bottom line is that the university is hoping for its research to serve as a stepping stone for what would be a more conscious approach towards gambling harm intervention within the Criminal Justice System.

“By sharing our findings, we hope to inform meaningful reforms within HMPPS and community services that reduce reoffending and improve lives,” Page concluded.