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 cause as a council aims to secure susceptible citizens.


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


Evidence recommended 1.2% of the city's population met the criteria to be described as problem gamblers, more than double the nationwide average, a spokesperson stated.


The experiences people share will go into minimizing the damage from the concern, they included.


Harms could include financial difficulty, relationship breakdown and psychological health problems, the spokesperson stated.


From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton residents looked for aid from the charity Aquarius, which supports individuals affected by gaming.


But the council spokesperson said they approximated 8,570 people could have taken advantage of the group's support.


Signs that somebody might have a problem with gambling consist of feelings of anxiety or tension around their betting habit, betting more than they can pay for to lose, and betting ever larger quantities of cash to feel the exact same "high" as previously.


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


"Your voice matters - whether you have been personally impacted, understand someone who has, or just desire to add to a more secure, much healthier city," she added, with a deadline for comments by 20 March.


Research from the yearly nationwide Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 revealed a noteworthy rise in betting involvement amongst 11 to 17 year olds, with 30% reporting that they had spent their own money on gambling in the past year, up from 27% in 2024.


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