𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲
𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨:
- More than 1 in 10 employees in the UK are affected by gambling harms, according to UKHSA (formerly Public Health England).
- Men are significantly more at risk, with 4.4% of men and 1.1% of women engaging in at-risk gambling activities (Health Survey for England, 2021).
- 78% of active online betting accounts and 95% of high-spending accounts (£5k+ per year) are held by men (GambleAware, 2021).
- The online betting sector derives an estimated 94% of its revenue from men (GambleAware, 2021).
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚:
- Gambling is now accessible 24/7 via smartphones and other digital devices.
- The pandemic accelerated the trend of online gambling, a trend that shows no signs of declining.
- Online gambling includes activities such as betting during football matches, purchasing lottery tickets, and playing poker online.
𝘿𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨:
- Responsible employers focus on mental, physical, financial, and social well-being, but should also consider digital gambling well-being.
- Online gambling can negatively impact digital well-being, leading to longer periods of gambling, higher spending, and potential financial distress.
- New forms of gambling, like cryptocurrency-based gambling, pose additional risks. Research shows that 37.5% of these operators offer no safer gambling tools, and 64.7% continue promotions to users showing signs of gambling issues.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙍 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙤:
1. Implement a Gambling Policy: Create a workplace policy that encourages employees to seek support for gambling issues, whether it concerns themselves or others.
2. Provide Resources: Share information about support services on your intranet or noticeboards. For example, Soteria offers a self-diagnostic tool.
3. Restrict Access: Limit the use of work devices for accessing gambling sites to reduce temptation during work hours.
4. Review Workplace Activities: Assess the appropriateness of workplace gambling activities like lottery syndicates or sweepstakes.
5. Training and Awareness: Offer training for leaders and well-being champions to help them identify and support employees at risk of gambling harm. Our Lived-Experience Ambassadors regularly visit workplaces to speak to staff.
𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚:
To better protect your employees and your organisation from the risks associated with gambling harms, reach out to Soteria.
We provide the necessary tools and direction to support the well-being of your workforce. Contact us to find out more about mitigating gambling risks in your company.
#EmployeeWellbeing, #GamblingHarms, #WorkplaceSafety, #MentalHealthAtWork, #RiskManagement, #PreventGamblingAddiction
Bruce Brooker