Views Sought Over Strategy To Reduce Gambling Harm

12 February 2026
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Andrew DawkinsWest Midlands


People in a city are being advised to share their experiences of gaming and what issues it can trigger as a council wants to protect vulnerable citizens.


Two assessments have actually been started by City of Council, one for adults and the other for kids and young people.


Evidence suggested 1.2% of the city's population met the requirements to be referred to as problem bettors, more than double the nationwide average, a spokesperson said.


The experiences individuals share will enter into lowering the damage from the concern, they added.


Harms might include financial difficulty, relationship breakdown and mental health problems, the representative stated.


From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton homeowners sought help from the charity Aquarius, which supports individuals impacted by betting.


But the council representative said they estimated 8,570 individuals might have taken advantage of the group's support.


Signs that someone may have a problem with betting include feelings of anxiety or stress around their betting routine, betting more than they can afford to lose, and gambling ever larger quantities of cash to feel the same "high" as before.


Councillor Obaida Ahmed said the authority desired their method to be shaped by genuine experiences and "grounded in what our neighborhoods tell us they require".


"Your voice matters - whether you have actually been personally impacted, know somebody who has, or simply wish to add to a much safer, healthier city," she added, with a due date for remarks by 20 March.


Research from the yearly nationwide Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 revealed a significant increase in gambling involvement amongst 11 to 17 years of age, with 30% reporting that they had invested their own money on betting in the previous year, up from 27% in 2024.


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