55,000 women register to self-exclude via GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP, the UK-based independent self-exclusion provider, has announced that more than 55,000 women have registered to self-exclude from all gambling sites.

According to fellow responsible gambling operator GamCare, the number of women experiencing gambling problems is increasing at double the rate of men, but only 1% contact the National Gambling Helpline for assistance.

Passing the 50,000 bench mark in registrations is significant, GAMSTOP argues, as it demonstrates ‘that online gambling addiction, often regarded as being a male problem that is linked to sport, is having an increasing impact on women.’

GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer commented: “As we begin to understand the demographic make-up of our register it is important to feed back to the various support agencies and work together to encourage those women who have registered with GAMSTOP to access the help they may need going forward.

“50,000 female registrants is a significant number and we are pleased that they have found the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme and that it is a useful practical tool to help with their gambling issues.”

Anna Hemmings, CEO of GamCare, added: “We must get to grips with the unnecessary shame and stigma women feel around asking for help with gambling. Gambling is not just a male activity, and it can affect women in significant, potentially life-changing ways.

“Our dedicated Women’s Programme has told us that we need to remove barriers for women to access help with gambling related harm – the issues that women are facing are often hidden from support services. 

“GamCare is pleased to be able to work with GAMSTOP so people registering for online self-exclusion can also be swiftly connected through to specialist support and treatment services, which greatly increases the chance of sustaining a recovery from gambling harms.”

GAMSTOP’s statistics also show that the number of women self-excluding via the service has risen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduction of lockdowns last year.

26% of all registrars to GAMSTOP in March 2020 were women, but by the end of the year this number had risen to over 31%.

In addition, the National Gambling Treatment Service has experienced an increase in the number of women receiving treatment  from 19% in 2015/16 to nearly 25% in the year to the end of March 2020. This coincides with increases in those with an online gambling addiction, up from 57% to 69%.

“The pandemic is creating a perfect storm of triggers for addictive gambling in women: feeling trapped, anxious and depressed, and overwhelmed by families or loneliness,” said Psychotherapist Liz Karter.

“As mental health problems increase so too will addiction to gambling. I treat young women who are wild with anxiety and stress, and for whom gambling started as self-medication, but the end results are always devastating costs to their mental health and finances. 

“Women feel that they will be judged more for a gambling addiction than an addiction related to drink or drugs, even though the physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms are similar, and equally dangerous.”

Lisa Walker, a problem gambling counsellor who has been in recovery from gambling addiction for more than two years, also said: “There is such a big stigma that women don’t gamble, which isn’t accurate. 

“What I have found is that women don’t feel that they can talk about their addiction, with it often being seen as a male issue. I think its fantastic that women are signing up to GAMSTOP and seeking help, though it also shows that there is lots more work to be done.

“I have spoken with many women who don’t feel they can go to support meetings, and I find it so upsetting that somebody could feel that way, as though they can’t even seek help. I hope things change and if we can increase the visibility of women who are recovering in the media, that could make a big difference.”

Last month, both GAMSTOP and CamCare teamed up with GamBan to launch the TalkBanStop initiative, the purpose of which is to offer free tools to support problem gamblers in managing their betting behaviours.