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 gambling and what issues it can cause as a council wants to protect vulnerable citizens.


Two assessments have been started by City of Wolverhampton Council, one for adults and the other for children and young individuals.


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


The experiences people share will enter into minimizing the harm from the problem, they .


Harms could include financial difficulty, relationship breakdown and mental health concerns, the spokesperson said.


From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton citizens looked for help from the charity Aquarius, which supports people impacted by gaming.


But the council representative said they approximated 8,570 people might have gained from the group's support.


Signs that someone may have an issue with betting consist of feelings of stress and anxiety or tension around their gambling routine, wagering more than they can manage to lose, and gaming ever larger amounts of cash to feel the very same "high" as previously.


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


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


Research from the annual national Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 showed a notable rise in gambling participation amongst 11 to 17 year olds, with 30% reporting that they had actually spent their own cash on betting in the past year, up from 27% in 2024.


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