GamCare cites a five-year high in the number of people calling with an online gambling problem

GamCare has raised a new red flag over the number of callers to the National Gambling Helpline, citing an online gambling-related issue ahead of the World Cup, which is kicking off on Friday, June 11.

According to GamCare, the number of such callers has increased significantly, reaching a five-year high, with 82% of callers to the helpline citing issues with the activity. In light of this, GamCare has urged for extra vigilance ahead of the tournament that is habitually tied to excessive spending as well as increased overall gambling spending. GamCare cited previous trends it has been able to record, noting that ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, calls on a monthly basis increased by 11%. 32% of people in the age group 18-34 who have placed a bet on the Euros or World Cup confirm that they find it hard not to place a bet on a major sports event, with 30% confirming that once the event(s) were over, they would continuegambling on other products, including higher-risk ones such as online casinos, a recent survey cited by GamCare and conducted by YouGov confirmed.

GamCare CEO Victoria Corbishley said: We typically see more requests for help and support during major sporting tournaments, and the World Cup could be particularly problematic for those struggling with online gambling. She noted that young adults can be particularly vulnerable, and excessive gambling can impact mental health, finances, and relationships. A similar warning to young people has been issued in the Netherlands, where the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA). The regulator urged young people to keep track of their gambling spending and to avoid betting excessively. The KSA has identified young adults as the most at-risk of pushing their sports betting habits beyond what is reasonable, and therefore, the regulator has chosen this demographic as its target group.