A new report by UK charity GambleAware has suggested that children and young people are in favor of reducing the gambling content they are exposed to. This comes amid a spike in gambling-related harms among the youth.
Children Are in Favor of Reducing Ads
GambleAware has published its latest State of the Nation report, outlining calls for reducing the gambling content youngsters are exposed to. The study sampled 3,000 people aged 11-24.
According to data collected by YouGov, 7 in 10 children agreed that it is difficult to avoid gambling ads and content. GambleAware added that 1 in 3 children have been exposed to some form of reward-based marketing in the past month.
For reference, the study showed that 9 in 10 children were able to pick out gambling companies within a list of brands.
According to the results of the survey, some 3 in 4 children aged 11-17 said that they believe that the UK should do more to reduce the amount of gambling advertising and content they see.
When asked what they would say to the makers of gambling ads, children suggested that advertisers should clearly highlight the risks associated with gambling and stop targeting them toward children.
Urgent and Coordinated Action Is Needed
Anna Hargrave, GambleAware’s chief executive officer, weighed in on the matter, expressing concern about the level of exposure to gambling that children and young people face. She said that the latest data shows how much the youth want ads to be brought under control.
Hargrave concluded that the report clearly shows that urgent and coordinated action is needed to reduce gambling-related harms among young people.
We hope that the recommendations in the report are given serious consideration to ensure we protect children and young people from the risks of gambling and gambling harms.
Anna Hargrave, CEO, GambleAware
Member of the House of Lords and prominent GambleAware supporter, Baroness Clare Gerada DBE, praised the State of the Nation report for providing evidence-based recommendations to lawmakers.
She said: “These should not be ignored, and I would implore those promoting gambling through advertising and marketing to take note of this report, and start to put the necessary actions in place, including clearer health warnings to warn people of the potential risks.”
The full report is available on GambleAware’s website.