Views Sought Over Strategy To Reduce Gambling Harm

12 February 2026
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Andrew DawkinsWest Midlands


People in a city are being urged to share their experiences of betting and what problems it can trigger as a council aims to protect vulnerable citizens.


Two assessments have actually been begun by City of Wolverhampton Council, one for adults and the other for children and young individuals.


Evidence recommended 1.2% of the city's population met the requirements to be explained as problem gamblers, more than double the nationwide average, a spokesperson stated.


The experiences people share will enter into reducing the harm from the problem, they added.


Harms could consist of financial hardship, relationship breakdown and mental health problems, the spokesperson said.


From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton homeowners sought aid from the charity Aquarius, which supports people affected by betting.


But the stated they approximated 8,570 individuals could have taken advantage of the group's assistance.


Signs that somebody might have an issue with betting include sensations of stress and anxiety or stress around their gambling routine, betting more than they can afford to lose, and gaming ever larger quantities of money to feel the same "high" as before.


Councillor Obaida Ahmed stated the authority desired their strategy to be formed by real experiences and "grounded in what our neighborhoods tell us they require".


"Your voice matters - whether you have actually been personally affected, know somebody who has, or merely desire to contribute to a more secure, much healthier city," she included, with a due date for remarks by 20 March.


Research from the yearly national Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 revealed a noteworthy rise in betting involvement among 11 to 17 years of age, with 30% reporting that they had invested their own money on gaming in the past year, up from 27% in 2024.


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