Early exposure to gambling and the associated harms are confirmed by the results of a survey published by GambleAware, a charity organisation that works on gambling prevention and treatment.
GambleAware’s latest annual Harm to Players and Families survey reveals data that includes an analysis of gambling-related issues. The study includes an assessment of whether players were exposed to gambling during childhood and at what age.
The results of a YouGov survey conducted on a representative sample of 18,000 adults showed that 64% of those who experience significant harm from gambling reported acquaintances who gambled in their childhood. Comparatively, 25% of adults who do not gamble reported having an acquaintance who gambled at a younger age.
The report confirms that among players who have significantly harmed themselves by engaging in gambling activities, the highest relapse rate (87%) is found among players who have previously been exposed to gambling.
Additionally, it was found that 33% of adults suffering from significant consequences of gambling did not seek professional help due to stigmatisation.
In March, GambleAware awarded a £350,000 grant to a group of research organisations working on the issue.
According to the report, respondents were asked about the age when they first encountered gambling. Approximately 6% claimed to have gambled before the age of five, while another 28% said they were between the ages of 6 and 11.
In addition, the report claims 22% of respondents first started gambling before the age of 18. Approximately 16% indicated that they made their first bet between the ages of 12 and 17.
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