Public health report into financial impact of problem gambling questioned

The findings of a major study by Public Health England (PHE) into the financial cost of problem gambling were called into question on Thursday after the report claimed an annual impact of £1.27 billion.

Of the total cost of problem gambling in England estimated by PHE, more than £950 million was attributed to the impact of depression and suicides among those affected. Criminality, substance abuse and employment-related issues were also cited.

The report concluded that "the evidence suggests that harmful gambling should be considered a public health issue because it is associated with harms to individuals, their families, close associates and wider society".

However, the credibility of the PHE study was questioned by Regulus Partners, whose partner Dan Waugh said: “PHE clearly sees the role of research as a means to lobby against gambling. The role of research should be to explore and enlighten on a subject.

“It is impossible to draw the conclusion they have on the headline figures and we would be extremely cautious about it. Three-quarters of the figure relates to costs associated with suicide and depression but you cannot direct that solely to a gambling disorder.

“If you have a gambling disorder you are more likely to have problems with suicide but it’s a significant leap to then say that 400 people died because of it; suicide is more complex than this. You just cannot take these deaths and say they are because of problem gambling.”

The PHE study concluded that people from deprived areas and who had higher alcohol consumption were at a greater risk of problems with gambling, and that men were more at risk than women.

It also revealed that the highest level of participation in gambling was “by people who have better general psychological health and higher life satisfaction”, a point Waugh highlighted.

The PHE report comes at a key time for the gambling industry with a government review of the 2005 Gambling Act currently under way.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), a betting industry lobby group representing the majority of bookmakers and casinos, said the government’s call for “an evidence-led approach” to these issues needed to apply to PHE as well as gambling groups.

A spokesman said: “A large part of the total estimated cost of gambling health harms in the report are actually based on the direct costs to government of treating issues such as depression, alcohol dependence, illegal drug use and other complex areas.

“Indeed, one part of the report acknowledges ‘the estimates represent costs associated with gambling, but it is not possible to say that these costs were caused by gambling’.

“BGC members contribute £7.7bn a year to the economy in gross value added and generate £4.5bn a year in tax to the Treasury, money which is spent on vital public services, including the 15 planned NHS clinics dedicated to counselling and treatment for problem gambling.

“The BGC is determined to drive up standards in the regulated industry and go even further in tackling problem gambling.”

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