GambleAware, the largest British gambling charity organisation, released its new interactive maps that are especially aimed at helping with the identification of the usage and the reported demand for support and treatment of gambling-related harm in the UK.
On May 25th, the charity revealed that its annual nationwide support and treatment survey in the UK provided a representative overview of the actual usage and the reported demand for treatment and support of gambling-related harm. GambleAware also noted that the survey produced some data about the prevalence of the negative effects associated with gambling. Furthermore, the differences between gambling participation, usage and reported demand for professional treatment and support for problem gamblers by area were outlined by the research.
Thanks to the survey, the largest gambling charity in the UK was able to produce the aforementioned interactive maps to help specialists, authorities and consumers better understand the geographical differences when it comes to usage and treatment of problem gambling. The data gathered will also help local authorities be more informative to people.
The new interactive maps unveiled by GambleAware indicate which areas have a higher usage of gambling support and which areas have a higher demand for problem gambling treatment and support services.
Interactive Maps to Provide Data about Usage and Demand of Gambling Treatment and Support Services
The British gambling charity shared that the existing efforts aimed at addressing gambling-related harm may affect levels of support and treatment. Furthermore, GambleAware shared that the newly presented interactive maps are based only on a single set of data, so no exact result is actually provided.
The gambling charity organisation made a recommendation to local authorities, saying they should use the interactive maps along with further information and data about gambling-related harm. When it comes to areas that have been reported as places with higher demand for treatment or professional support for problem gambling, GambleAware has encouraged local authorities to be more proactive in promoting the existing help service that the National Gambling Treatment Service already provides.
The Information and Knowledge Director of the gambling charity, Alison Clare, explained that GambleAware remains willing to help local authorities and services deliver the best possible support and treatment for anyone who suffers from gambling-related harm in their area.
As explained by Ms Clare, the new interactive maps presented by the gambling charity organisation can be used to identify any possible shortfalls between the prevalence of gambling-related harm and gambling participation and the treatment and support services that are available to British residents. This data would also add up to the support that is already available to local people through the National Gambling Treatment Service.
For years now anti-gambling campaigners have been calling for the country’s Government to take more serious measures in order to ensure better protection for anyone who needs help to deal with their problem gambling behaviour and the possible negative effects of gambling. The new interactive maps launched by GambleAware are aimed at helping the authorities combat gambling harm and reduce the pressure it has on people who find it hard to control their gambling habits.
- Author
Daniel Williams
