Gambling addiction referrals hit record high as NHS England seeks to help

New specialist clinics are to be opened as a result of soaring demand for gambling addiction care

A record number of people have sought help for gambling addiction in England, as health officials warn children and adults are being "bombarded" with targeted adverts.

NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard sounded the alarm over “touch of a button” bets as she announced that the NHS is ramping up support for people with gambling problems.

New specialist clinics are to be opened as a result of soaring demand for care, she said.

The NHS in England has seen a steep rise in demand for support for “gambling-related harms”, a spokeswoman for the service said.

A record 1,389 patients were referred for help last year, compared 1,013 last year and 775 two years ago.

Ms Pritchard told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: “Back in 1948 when the NHS was founded you had to go to a bookie shop to place a bet, now it’s 24/7 on people’s phones. So unsurprisingly, we’re seeing a really significant increase in demand.

“And for people who have got severe gambling addiction, it’s a really cruel disease and it’s a life destroyer. Today we’re opening seven more clinics that brings the total to 15 specialist clinics.”

She said that football clubs should “think seriously” about their responsibilities to fans.

“We’ve had three this week that have entered into deals with gambling industry providers for shirt sponsorship, which means that it’s kids that are seeing every day now messages that say gambling is OK,” she said.

“And I think actually would be really great to see the gambling industry and also organisations like football clubs really think seriously about their responsibilities here too.”

As a result of the growth in gambling addiciton, the NHS is launching seven more specialist gambling clinics to support people who are struggling.

The announcement comes just days after a coroner ruled that a gambling disorder contributed to the death of a father-of-two.

Luke Ashton had lost thousands of pounds gambling on Betfair’s exchange before he died by suicide at the age of 40 on April 22 2021, and had previously racked up debts of £18,000.

At the conclusion of a three-day inquest into his death at Leicester Coroner’s Court on Thursday, area coroner Ivan Cartwright said the betting company could have done more to help him before he took his own life.

Joshua Jones had a job as a trainee accountant at a big City firm, but also had a gambling addiction which started as a teenager.

In 2015, at just 23, he took his own life after amassing debts of £30,000.

Joshua's father, Martin, told ITV News: "I can't understand why we're talking about this - the gambling industry makes £14 billion in profit, the government takes £3 billion of tax-take.

"And we're arguing about a few tens or hundreds of millions of pounds to provide a first-class treatment service.

"It shouldn't even be debated. We should just do it."

"I think he just felt ashamed," the father of Joshua Jones tells ITV News

The new NHS clinics were to be set up in Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, Blackpool, and Sheffield.

This is on top of clinics already running in London, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Telford as well as a national clinic, which treats both gambling and gaming addiction in children and young people, based in London.

The NHS plans to treat up to 3,000 patients a year across the 15 clinics.

Patients with serious addiction will be helped though cognitive behavioural therapy, family therapy, support groups and aftercare.

Psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses and peer support workers will staff the clinics, offering support to patients as well as their family members, partners, and carers.

“Ahead of the NHS’s 75th birthday on Wednesday, this expansion shows the NHS once again adapting to the new healthcare needs that have emerged over the last 75 years,” Ms Pritchard said.

“In 1948 when the NHS was founded, you had to go to a bookies to place a bet, but now people can gamble on their phone at the touch of a button and everyone, young and old, is bombarded with adverts encouraging them to take part.

“Record numbers of people are coming to the NHS for help to treat their gambling addiction, a cruel disease which has the power to destroy people’s lives, with referrals up by more than a third compared to last year.

“As it has done since 1948, the NHS is responding at speed and rolling out seven new gambling harms clinics across England, so that even more people can be supported by the NHS in their time of need.”

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