Gambling harms in the UK

We’re seeing concerning levels of people at-risk of or experiencing ‘problem gambling’ across Great Britain. 2.5% of all those surveyed in the Gambling Commission’s 2023 Gambling Survey for Great Britain experienced ‘problem gambling’ – which means they are gambling to a degree that compromises, disrupts or damages their lives in some way. A further 11.9% are ‘at moderate or low risk of experiencing problem gambling’. 

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain also showed that nearly six in ten (58%) people who had experienced problem gambling in the previous 12 months had not accessed any form of gambling support at all.

Financial services firms have a unique perspective of the harm that is occurring and the regulator of financial services, the Financial Conduct Authority, through their Consumer Duty, requires firms to ‘prevent foreseeable harm’ – meaning they are duty bound to do more and protect customers from gambling harms. 

“You [financial services providers] may not be the cause of gambling harms, but you have an amazing opportunity to be part of the solution.” Tim Miller, Executive Director at the Gambling Commission

The Gambling Harms Action Lab

The Gambling Harms Action Lab is a three-year project working directly with financial services providers to explore how firms can best support customers’ experiencing gambling harm. Together, we’ll develop new ways to identify, proactively engage and offer support to people who may want or need support with their gambling. 

As part of this, we’re embarking on an 18-month Action Learning Set series with up to seven current account providers to explore common challenges banks face in supporting their customers experiencing gambling harms. 

We’ll share our impact and findings with the industry, including insight on what worked,  what didn’t and how firms can continue to tackle gambling harms moving forward.

The logo of the Gambling Harms Action Lab.
The front cover of Money and Mental Health's report, Shining a light.

Featured item: Shining a light

This paper looks at gambling harms in Britain. It shows that there is a huge gap between the number of people in need of support for gambling harms and the number of people regularly accessing these services.

It also shows that financial service providers have a privileged insight into a consumer’s gambling spending and a unique opportunity to support people experiencing gambling harm.

How experts by experience support the Gambling Harms Action Lab

Join the Research Community and help us address gambling harms

Have you placed a bet recently? Have you played bingo? Do you regularly use gambling apps? Or have you joined a prize draw or gambled in video games? We want to hear from you. 

We’re asking people  with lived experience of gambling and mental health problems to join our Research Community to test tools and make real change. This includes family, friends and loved ones of those who gamble. You do not have to have experienced difficulties or harm with gambling to join – we want to hear all views and experiences. Your views and responses will always be kept confidential.

You can join our Research Community here. To join, go to the Research Community form and select that you’re interested in ‘gambling’. 

If you are currently affected by gambling harms or would like support for your previous experiences, please visit our Get Help page.

Throughout the Gambling Harms Action Lab programme, your feedback will enable current account providers to improve support and help more people.  

Hear from Darran, a member of our Research Community and an expert by experience on gambling harms about his experiences below:

About the Gambling Harms Action Lab

When gambling operators are found to have broken the rules set by their regulator, the Gambling Commission, they are made to pay a financial penalty. This money, paid by gambling operators, is distributed by the regulator to organisations trying to tackle gambling harms. The Gambling Harms Action Lab is funded through one of these ‘regulatory settlements’.

The gambling industry has no influence over the output of the Gambling Harms Action Lab whatsoever. While the Gambling Harms Action Lab is funded through a regulatory settlement from an operator, this was imposed on the operator by their regulator for breaching the rules, and no relationship exists between Money and Mental Health and the gambling operator at all. We report quarterly to the Gambling Commission, which regulates gambling in Great Britain. Gambling operators have no oversight or control over any actions undertaken by the Gambling Harms Action Lab.

An Action Learning Set (ALS) is a group of representatives from current account providers who meet regularly to work on and solve common challenges. Members will share with the group the challenges they’re facing in developing and progressing supportive tools for customers at risk of or experiencing problem gambling. The group of engaged peers supports one another by asking questions to help unlock ways forward and innovative solutions. 

The Gambling Harms Action Lab team will facilitate ALS meetings, guiding the group through the classic structure for Action Learning sessions and helping members work together to overcome barriers to tackling gambling harm within their organisation. 

The Gambling Harms Action Lab programme will run until around June 2027. From February 2025, current account providers who are committed to the programme will embark on an 18-month period of working in an Action Learning Set Series. During this time, firms will develop and test new tools and interventions to support those at risk of or experiencing problem gambling. 

Following this period, Money and Mental Health will share an update on the new tools and interventions developed and make recommendations for the wider financial services sector.

Banks and other financial firms can play an important role in addressing gambling harms. Often, they are one of the few organisations or people who know when someone is struggling with problem spending and gambling.

Here at Money and Mental Health, we have vast experience and expertise in working with financial services providers. We believe we will have the greatest impact in tackling gambling harm by building on our existing network, knowledge and expertise. 

The Financial Conduct Authority, the financial services regulator, requires firms to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm through its Consumer Duty. We are working directly with a group of firms to deliver on this principle as it applies to gambling harm. Current account providers have a unique opportunity to support people who are experiencing gambling harm.

Money and Mental Health will share updates on the project’s progress with the Gambling Commission. We have a dedicated team of three staff members who are working to deliver the programme of work.

We also have a steering group with representatives from the financial services sector, academics specialising in gambling harms and those with lived experience of gambling harms and affected others. This group will meet regularly to discuss the ongoing work of the programme. 

Who we’re working with

Nationwide was the first current account provider to officially join the Gambling Harms Action Lab in November 2024. The full list of firms working in the programme will be announced soon.

LatestBest practiceEventsNewsBlogsPublicationsPress Releases
Man at home looking at a mobile phone.Blogs

Protecting customers from gambling with borrowed funds

Nikki Bond, Head of Gambling Harms Action Lab, Money and Mental Health

January 30, 2025
Press Releases

Money and Mental Health response to new statutory levy for gambling operators

November 27, 2024

Publications

Shining a light

Exploring the role of financial services in tackling gambling harms.

November 05, 2024
Best practice

Best practice guide for banks and building societies: Gambling

Our best practice guide for banks and building societies sets out how you can support customers experiencing gambling harm.

July 20, 2021

Latest publications

Power to help

Exploring the accessibility of energy debt support for people experiencing mental health problems.

Shining a light

Exploring the role of financial services in tackling gambling harms.

Reforming the Mental Health Act

Time to tackle the links between financial difficulty and acute mental illness.

In the public interest?

The psychological toll of local and national government debt collection practices.