GambleAware Launches New Campaign to Reduce Gambling Stigma

Friday 26 January 2024

GambleAware has announced the launch of a new national public health campaign in Great Britain to reduce stigma associated with gambling harms. ABCUL and credit unions across the country are supporting the campaign and have a long history of supporting credit union members from the dangers of gambling.

New data suggest that three quarters (75%) of those who experience problems with gambling do not feel able to open up to family and friends. In addition, a quarter of adults (23%) state they think they know someone who has experienced problems with gambling. Data also shows how three in five (61%) are put off speaking to those experiencing gambling harms about it due to concerns around stigma.

In the past couple of years, the sector have supported members in a number of ways to prevent them falling into debt due to gambling problems. Serve and Protect CU teamed up with Derbyshire Constabulary to help raise awareness to the impact of gambling and problem related debt in the workplace.

As a credit union Serve and Protect did its utmost to help support members, has established key partnerships with charities such as StepChange and GamCare to help ensure members get the additional support they may need.

Metro Moneywise Credit Union have facilitated training with other credit unions to share best practices. The team are continuing to expand their knowledge and understanding of gambling harms and we have received great feedback from members who have worked with the support we’ve offered.
London Mutual Credit Union has been featured in a toolkit on tackling gambling-related financial harms produced by gambling support charity, GamCare. The toolkit is designed to help businesses support customers who may be affected by financial harms due to gambling. The credit union have also improved the support for members identified as being at risk of harm. These steps include:

–        Signposting loan applicants to trusted sources of support if we are unable to approve their application due to gambling risk. The Toolkit cites this as an example of positive interventions and how such communications can be handled sensitively.

–        Including a ‘gambling block’ by default on our card loan products. This prevents the card from being used for in-store or online gambling purchases. It is also designed to deter the use of borrowed funds for gambling.

“ABCUL is committed to working with community and charitable partners to support campaigns such as this,” says ABCUL CEO, Robert Kelly. “Gambling harms can affect people from all corners of society and the credit union sector is a vital lifeline for vulnerable members in the community. The financial well-being of members is a credit union’s priority and can provide much-needed advice and support to those at risk of gambling-related harms.”

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, said: “Gambling harms are hidden and complex in nature. For many people who experience gambling harm, feelings of shame and embarrassment can often mean they struggle to talk about the issue with loved ones. Gambling harms can affect anyone, which is why it is so important that we break down the stigma associated with it and encourage people to come forward and talk about gambling harm. It’s about time we put an end to stigma and opened up the conversation about gambling.”