New polling has revealed that 64% of residents in Greater Manchester gamble a minimum of once a year.
The results showed the most common reasons for gambling were enjoyment (45%), to earn money (26%) and to pass time or as a distraction (18%).
It is the first time the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has surveyed the public on their experience of gambling.
The data comes from the elected body in partnership with the market research agency BMG Research, conducted between the 4 and 18 of September.
🎲 For the first time in our resident’s survey asked for people’s experiences with gambling.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
You can find more information about gambling support in Greater Manchester here: https://t.co/6w8t6c0A7C pic.twitter.com/kt1vj6BbWF
The data displayed the frequency for how often Mancunians gamble. Nearly three fifths report doing so more than once a month.
When this figure is broken down, the data shows nearly a fifth gamble more than once a week, while 28% said they gamble weekly.
The survey shows the extent to which gambling is part of some Greater Manchester resident’s everyday lives.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
🎲 17% gamble more than once a week. pic.twitter.com/w1BOcvsPzn
The negative effects of gambling are clear in the polling.
When analysed in relation to the current economic climate, a quarter said their gambling has decreased because of the cost of living crisis.
Yet some have started gambling as a result of the cost of living crisis. This criteria fit for 4% of those polled.
Indeed, young people seem more susceptible to this change. The data set shows that 9% of those in the 16-24 age bracket have begun gambling since 2021.
On the other hand, 3% reported stopping gambling altogether because of the issues with cost of living. This percentage increases to 10% for those from racially minoritised communities.
💷 Since September 2022 we’ve been asking residents about their experience of the cost of living to understand how the crisis impacts them.
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) October 12, 2023
🎲 For the first time we asked resident’s how the crisis has affected their gambling habits. pic.twitter.com/L46M41qmy3
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: “Robust national regulation is needed to protect people from harm in an increasingly online environment.
“We are working with residents and campaigners to put pressure on Government to proactively prevent and reduce gambling related harms.”
The Combined Authority proposed a prevention scheme called the Gambling Harms Action Plan for the years 2023-2026.
Their vision is for Greater Manchester to be a place where the effects of gambling are no longer harmful.
They said: “This will not be achieved overnight and progress towards this goal will require dedicated thought, time and resources.
“Gambling harms are complex, meaning that a comprehensive, evidence-based framework of local and national policies are needed to address the social, economic and commercial drivers of harm.”
Their approach includes targeted interventions by addressing social, economic and commercial causes of gambling.
The support and treatment will aim to reduce the impact of harmful gambling and the action will be taken independent from betting companies and the industry.
More information about the plans can be found here.
The polling data from Greater Manchester Combined Authority can also be found here.
Feature image by Heather Gill.
