Gambling can affect the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and wider society. Derby City Council is exploring how to reduce gambling-related harm in the city. 

In recent years, perceptions of gambling have changed. Gambling is increasingly promoted through sport and on TV and online, reaching wide audiences including children. The rapid expansion of online gambling also means that opportunities to gamble are increasingly widespread.

Gambling-related harms range from loss of money to the breakdown of relationships, from crime to substance misuse, addiction, and suicide. For each person who experiences gambling harm, around six others are affected – including partners and children.

Derby City Council’s recently-published Director of Public Health Annual Report explores the impact of gambling throughout the city. The Council’s Public Health team have looked at national and local data, spoken to a local citizen about how gambling impacted his life and consulted young people from the city about their views on gambling.

Dr Robyn Dewis, Derby City Council’s Director of Public Health, said:

In the last few years, I’ve become increasingly worried about the impact of gambling on the health of our communities here in Derby. When we think about health problems, we might think about cancer, heart disease or the causes of health problems, such as alcohol and tobacco.

However, gambling should also be considered as a potential source of serious harm to our health. Gambling isn’t an individual problem. We need to look at the role society plays in causing gambling-related harms. I hope our report raises awareness and we can work together as a city to reduce the effects of gambling in Derby.

Modelling suggests that Derby citizens collectively spend at least £314,000 on gambling activities every week. It is estimated that there are currently 514 adults in Derby who are engaging in problem gambling. Anyone can be harmed by gambling, but people who are the poorest and most socially deprived are at greatest risk.

Gambling harms often co-exist with other health conditions, such as poor mental health. 
The stigma associated with problem gambling mean people often suffer in silence. And while the harms from gambling can accumulate quickly, recovery can take a long time.

As part of the work behind the report, Dr Dewis spoke to Derby citizen Chris, who revealed his own experience of gambling. Chris first started gambling when he was 13 and it went on to affect every aspect of his life, eventually leading to a breakdown and suicide attempt in 2006. He has not gambled since then after receiving help through a local support group, but it still impacts his daily life, and his family. 

Chris said:

My addiction took lots of money from me but, even more damagingly, it took my self-confidence and self-respect, lots of relationships and very nearly my life…

It (gambling) was something that grabbed me by the throat. I’m a huge believer this is an illness and it's progressive in nature.

You can find our video of Chris's story at the end of this article.

Derby City Council’s Public Health Annual Report makes several recommendations for action. These include promoting the need for early education on gambling related harms, raising awareness of the support available, reducing the exposure of vulnerable people to gambling products and using data to better understand gambling in Derby. 

Derby’s report has been praised by the Association of Directors of Public Health. Chief Executive Nicola Close, said:

Robyn and her team have produced a really interesting report which looks at an area of increasing concern for public health. 

While gambling is often not thought of as a determinant of health, its knock-on effects on health and wellbeing are far-reaching, and not just for the individual but for their families and the wider community. Congratulations to everyone involved in writing the report, which shines a spotlight on this important public health issue.

If gambling is affecting your life and you’d like support, the report contains details of organisations that can help. These include the NHS East Midlands Gambling Harms Service, which offers specialist treatment and support to people struggling with gambling across the region.