A new study has found that young men in the United Kingdom are at risk of becoming problem gamblers. Carried out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, the research highlights the dangers that exposure to gambling can cause for young men across the country.
According to the report, gambling is a major pastime in the United Kingdom with 68% of men and 61% of women indulging in the activity at least once per year. Playing the National Lottery is the most popular form of gambling while scratch cards and horserace betting followed closely behind. The individuals that gamble the most are young people under the age of 24 and older people over the age of 70.
These two groups spend indulge in gambling more often than any other demographic in the country. In these two identified groups, young men were found to be the most susceptible to gambling harm. 5% of young men aged 16 to 24 are classified as moderate risk or problem gamblers while 10% are classified as low risk.
“The increased levels of gambling engagement among young men highlights them as a particular group who may be at risk of experiencing of gambling-related harm,” reads the report. Over 10% of males in this age group stated that they often chase their losses when they gamble. Many noted that they tend to wager more money than they can actually afford, while any others admitted to feeling guilty about their spending.
Some young men stated that their gambling led to other issues, including stress and debt. 1% of respondents divulged that they had committed a crime to fund their gambling habits at some point. This is certainly a cause for concern, as more and more young men give into the dangers of gambling. It is important that young people are taught to gamble responsibly so that they do not find themselves the victims of problem gambling.
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