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 betting and what problems it can trigger as a council seeks to protect vulnerable homeowners.


Two assessments have actually been begun by City of Wolverhampton Council, one for grownups and the other for children and young individuals.


Evidence suggested 1.2% of the city's population fulfilled the requirements to be described as problem gamblers, more than double the nationwide average, a representative said.


The experiences individuals share will go into minimizing the damage from the issue, they included.


Harms might consist of monetary difficulty, relationship breakdown and psychological health issues, the spokesperson stated.


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


But the council spokesperson stated they 8,570 people might have benefited from the group's assistance.


Signs that someone may have a problem with gambling include sensations of stress and anxiety or tension around their gambling habit, betting more than they can manage to lose, and gambling ever bigger amounts of money to feel the same "high" as in the past.


Councillor Obaida Ahmed stated the authority wanted their technique to be formed by real experiences and "grounded in what our communities inform us they need".


"Your voice matters - whether you have actually been personally affected, know someone who has, or simply wish to add to a much safer, healthier city," she included, with a deadline for remarks by 20 March.


Research from the yearly national Youth and Gambling Survey 2025 showed a notable rise in gambling involvement amongst 11 to 17 year olds, with 30% reporting that they had spent their own cash on gaming in the previous year, up from 27% in 2024.


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