Rising Cost of Living Poses Risk to Female Gamblers

The charity organisation, Be Gamble Aware has expressed concern that the rising cost of living crisis puts women at risk of engaging in more dangerous gambling. It is expected that female gamblers will become more active in an attempt to increase their income and cover living expenses.

For the vast majority of us, having trouble making ends meet due to the high cost of living is nothing new. But the results of a recent survey prove worrying as winter approaches. 

The survey, based on responses from over 1,600 women who gamble, revealed how stigma and shame around gambling might prevent women who are worried about their gambling from seeking support. Among women who gamble, one in three (32%) said they would be reluctant to speak to a family member about concerns over their gambling, with nearly half (49%) of these women stating shame as a key barrier. In addition, nearly two thirds (63%) felt women’s gambling is seen less acceptable than men and one in five (19%) were already hiding or downplaying their gambling.

Be Gamble Aware has launched a campaign called The Prevention Campaign in an effort to encourage women specifically to combat stigma and draw attention to the available support.

Dr Linda Papadopoulus, leading psychologist and spokesperson for the prevention campaign launched by GambleAware, said:

“This new research raises serious concerns over the potential growth in the scale of gambling harm over the coming months. With such a stark warning sign, it is vital we help ensure more women are aware of the risks of gambling. As financial hardships accelerate amid the cost-of-living crisis and the number of women gambling online increases, we are concerned it is creating a perfect storm, which may lead to a rise in the number of women experiencing gambling harm. We must break down the pervasive stigma that prevents too many women from seeking out vital support.”

Given that gambling addiction has historically been associated with men, it's important to look past these preconceptions.

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, said:

If you are worried about your gambling or are starting to lose track of time, spending more than you can afford, or hiding your gambling from others, please don’t hesitate to visit BeGambleAware.org for free, confidential support, or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.”