Gambling-related admissions to hospital have reached more than one a day, as the health service grapples with betting addiction across Britain.
There were 379 such admissions to hospital in 2018/19, up 28% on 2015/16, according to NHS Digital figures that include those diagnosed as having a pathological gambling addiction.
Gambling disorder is linked to compulsive behaviour, the risk of self-harm and substance misuse. It also occurs in conjunction with serious mental health difficulties, such as depression, anxiety and psychosis.
The north-west had the greatest number of admissions over the past year, followed by London. About a sixth of those admitted to hospital across England, Scotland and Wales were under 25 but it was unclear how many were children.
The number of children classed as having a gambling problem is 55,000, while 450,000 under-18s bet regularly, according to industry regulator the Gambling Commission.
Last week, the Royal Society for Public Health warned that betting-style features in video games, including loot boxes, are polluting young peoples lives and should be reclassified as gambling.
Gambling disorder significantly impacts on a persons mental health, increasing the risk of self harm and suicide, said Matt Zarb-Cousin from gambling blocking software firm Gamban.
Were now at the point where more than one person every day in Britain has to be admitted to hospital as a result of gambling. Its time to look properly at the types of gambling available and their role in causing such severe harm to people.
Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said earlier this year: The links between problem gambling and stress, depression and mental health problems are growing and there are too many stories of lives lost and families destroyed.
He added: This is an industry that splashes 1.5bn on marketing and advertising campaigns, much of it now pumped out online and through social media, but it has been spending just a fraction of that helping customers and their families deal with the direct consequences of addiction.
The NHS opened the National Problem Gambling Clinic in London this year to provide young people specialist help to deal with betting addiction as part of an expansion of its treatment offering in the area.
The figures do not include patients who were diagnosed in a primary care setting, or who attended hospital as an outpatient.
The World Health Organization first recognised gambling disorder as a medical condition in 2000. In the UK, there are about 340,000 adult problem gamblers, 0.7% of the population, according to the Gambling Commission.
Bookmakers have closed dozens of shops on high streets and are increasingly pushing customers towards online betting, after stakes on fixed-odd betting terminals described as the crack cocaine of gambling were limited to 2 this year.
The gambling industry in the UK made 14.4bn in 2018/19 and Denise Coates, the multibillionaire founder of the gambling company Bet365, paid herself 323m last year.
More than half of people aged 16 or older in England gambled at some point during 2018, according to official figures.
Read more:
UK gambling-related hospital admissions up to more than one a day - The Guardian
- Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling: Learn How to Stop ... - December 12th, 2016 [December 12th, 2016]
- Remote Gambling Association (RGA) - December 16th, 2016 [December 16th, 2016]
- William Hill Casino Club - Up To 150 Casino Bonus - December 19th, 2016 [December 19th, 2016]
- Gambling - The New York Times - December 31st, 2016 [December 31st, 2016]
- Trusted Online Gambling Sites Since 1996 - Online.Gambling.org - January 7th, 2017 [January 7th, 2017]
- Casino Gambling Web | Best Online Gambling News and Casinos ... - January 11th, 2017 [January 11th, 2017]
- Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling - helpguide.org - January 15th, 2017 [January 15th, 2017]
- Industry: Crackdown on illegal gambling in the Philippines now ... - GamingTodaySlotsToday - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Military should screen for gambling disorder, GAO says - Virginian-Pilot - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Gambling with people's autonomy | Liberties | Risk | spiked - Spiked - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Bill introduced to lower age for legal gambling in Nevada - Las Vegas Review-Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- FIFA YouTuber Pleads Guilty To Gambling Charges [UPDATE] - GameSpot - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Gambling Stock Roundup: Macau Sales Rise Again in January, Nevada Records a Drop in December - Yahoo Finance - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Super Bowl sets gambling record at Nevada sports books - Reuters - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Older gamblers face worse odds for addiction - Times Herald-Record - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- How to Handle Gambling Wins and Losses This Tax Season - TheStreet.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- GAO report recommends military members be screened for ... - wtkr.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- The Newest Challenge in Gambling: Finding Growth - Motley Fool - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Raising a question about gambling prohibition - Dothan Eagle - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- A Creepy Dude Is Your Inner Gambling Addict in These Horrifying PSAs From Tom Tagholm - Fishbowl NY (blog) - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Super Bowl Betting Tally Helps Make the Case for Legalized Sports Gambling - TheStreet.com - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- MLB commissioner admits the league is rethinking its stance on gambling - FOXSports.com - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Why I love fake gambling and in-game casinos according to a psychologist - PC Gamer - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- YouTubers fined for running illegal FIFA 17 gambling site - Ars Technica - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Deducting Gambling Losses on Your Taxes - TheStreet.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Gambling pot grows for Madison County - Utica Observer Dispatch - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- How Vietnam Is Changing Its Gambling Rules To Win Foreign Investment - Forbes - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- No truth to alleged link between missing Spencerport teen, illegal gambling - 13WHAM-TV - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- The world's biggest gamblers - The Economist (blog) - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Idaho House Panel Introduces Bill Limiting Indian Gambling - Boise State Public Radio - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Pennsylvania Omnibus Gambling Bill Presented to House - Casino.Org News - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Gamblers caught in Hat Yai open-air casino bust | Bangkok Post: news - Bangkok Post - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Men Fined Over FIFA Gambling Operation - Card Player - CardPlayer.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Rob Manfred may change MLB's stance on gambling - SB Nation - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Do you have a mobile gambling/gaming problem? - KMTV - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- OUR VIEW: Transparency needed in gambling operations - Pacific Daily News - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- New York State transformation into the gambling big leagues nearly complete with opening of newest casino - The Daily Freeman - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Kenya: Gambling in Kenya Gets Out of Hand - AllAfrica.com - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Gambling Responsibly - New York Times - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Duterte targets illegal gambling in the Philippines - Yahoo News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- US Grabs Biggest Global Gambling Industry Win Share in 2016 - Casino News Daily - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- UFC 208 odds, gambling guide - MMA Fighting - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Calendar urges gamblers to cut their losses l Dayton, Ohio - Dayton Daily News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Gambling Manga "Akagi" Begins Countdown to Conclusion - Crunchyroll News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Football's gambling problem: You better, you better, you bet - Football365.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- States are gambling with law enforcement safety - The Hill (blog) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- AFL's gambling ads concern for Cats star - Wide World of Sports - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Celeb Gambling Ring Members Fear They've Been CAUGHT On Wiretaps Making Illegal Bets, Source Claims - Radar Online - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Highway Patrol: Raid of Warren bar uncovers illegal gambling - WKBN.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Scary graph shows how Australians are the biggest losers - NEWS.com.au - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Bato: War on illegal gambling won't be bloody - Philippine Star - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Last holdout Lakewood to vote on repealing video gambling ban - Northwest Herald - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- AFL's gambling ads a concern for Geelong Cats star Harry Taylor - The Age - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Online Casinos Generate A Third Of UK Gambling Dollars - CardPlayer.com - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Darlington deputies bust gambling house in Hartsville | News ... - SCNow - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Kim Jong Un's gambling half-brother reportedly assassinated - CBS News - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- BitcoinCasino.us Ensures Instant Payouts and Responsible Gambling - newsBTC - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Gambling operators are cashing in on teens' addiction to online games - The Canberra Times - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Americans Lost $116.9B Gambling In 2016: Report - CardPlayer.com - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Levine: Rick Hahn, White Sox Gambling On Right Trades At Right Time - CBS Local - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Wesfarmers considers pokies exit in bid to tackle problem gambling - ABC Online - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Massive felony gambling raid in Marietta | WAGA - FOX 5 Atlanta - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 'War on gambling' starts with small fry - Inquirer.net - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Edgeless Casino Introduces Revolutionary Transparent 0% House Edge Online Gambling - newsBTC - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- FF12: When is gambling illegal in Kansas? - KWCH - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Osage woman accused of stealing, gambling mother's money - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 'Operation Parlay' Leads To Gambling Raid, Arrest - Patch.com - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Pete Rose defends legal gambling: 'Who am I hurting?' - Yahoo Sports - Yahoo Sports - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Cops bust alleged gambling ring being run out of Cobb storefronts - Atlanta Journal Constitution - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Dunlap: State Rep. Gets It Right With Sports Gambling - CBS Local - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Gambling Addiction Treatment Center, Rehab - Non Gambler - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Problem Gambling Online Resources - Drugfreeinfo.org - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Attleboro seeks gambling grant for new dispatch center - The Sun Chronicle - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- House gambling bill teed up for next week - SaintPetersBlog (blog) - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Firms oppose Bill regulating gambling - Daily Nation - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Tim Simona faces NRL deregistration after alleged breaches of gambling rules - The Sydney Morning Herald - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Washington State Gambling Commission - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Online Casino USA Friendly Online Casinos for 2017 - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Records: 70 gambling machines seized, two arrested in Alamo raid ... - KGBT-TV - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- Florida House Goes Conservative on Gambling Expansion with New ... - Casino News Daily - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]