Publish date: 17 November 2025
In Great Britain, 61% of people report that they gamble – with around 16% of those people experiencing harm from their gambling.
An estimated 12 million people across the UK are affected by someone else’s gambling. Of that figure, around 3 and a half million people are living with someone who has a harmful level of gambling. This can include things like safeguarding concerns raised by people not having enough money to put food on the table.
These are some of the headline points raised by Dr Chris Gillmore, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at AWP and Clinical Lead for the South West Gambling Service, in a new podcast that’s been recorded as part of Safer Gambling Week.
The new episode of AWP’s We Are AWP Voices, also highlights the dangers of just listening to the gambling industry’s narrative during Safer Gambling Week.
Dr Gillmore said: “Safer Gambling Week is organised by the Betting and Gaming Council, who mission is to ‘champion the betting and gaming industry’. There are no safe levels gambling.”
The wide-ranging conversation also covered subjects like the effect that gambling can have on the brain, the tricks that the gambling industry uses to keep people gambling, and the way people can reach out for help.
You can listen to the episode here.
“There are ways people can overcome gambling.” Dr Gillmore explained. “Potentially anyone can be at risk of becoming addicted. Gambling is designed to draw you in – to keep you playing.”
Dr Gillmore finished with some pointers to help you stop:
- Talk to someone in your family, if you haven’t got someone close you can talk to, call the Gambling service.
- Track it – write down, or record on an app, what you’re spending.
- Put the controls in place (e.g. GAMSTOP, Gamban) to stop you accessing online gambling.
- Think about the different types of gambling – lotteries, crypto, and day trading are all gambling, just like slot machines.
- If you know someone who may be affected, talk to them. Steer away from blaming people as there are high levels of shame associated with gambling.
The South West Gambling Service is for people living in the South West and it provides free confidential support to people affected by gambling addiction. If you’re registered with a GP in the South West and would like support to stop gambling then please get in contact with the service.
The service offers a range of support, including recovery courses for gambling, cognitive behaviour therapy, support for affected family members and access to an online community.
You can refer yourself directly to the service either by calling 0330 022 3175 Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm or you can self-refer by our online form here.
You can find out more about the South West Gambling Service here.
You can listen to the Gambling podcast, and find a selection of our other podcasts here.
