Majority of women don't seek treatment for gambling addiction
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A Manx addiction charity has said women may struggle to come forward with a gambling addiction due to stigma.
A study in the UK found women seeking treatment for gambling addiction has doubled in the last five years. The number has gone up from 1,134 in 2015/16 to 2,423 in 2020/21.
But the majority of women don’t seek treatment due to stigma and embarrassment, according to UK charity GambleAware.
Motiv8, a Manx addiction charity, has said this stigma could be holding women back from seeking help.
Thea Ozenturk, chief executive officer at the charity, said: ’Gambling problems are often seen as the hidden addiction.
’It can be a solitary activity, done in secret and often friends and family members find out in the latter stages when debts and financial problems are harder to conceal. This is true of women and well as men.
’Women tend to develop gambling addiction or gambling disorder as it is now known in response to difficulties and personal issues. They may see gambling as a way to escape their problems, especially if they are unhappy with their lives.
’Often it is the fantasy about winning big that keeps women gambling, as they see the big win may be a way to solve their problems and offer a way out.’
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In England, a House of Lords select committee on the social and economic impact of the gambling industry estimated that in 2020, one in nine people suffered from a gambling problem.
On average, Motiv8 supports approximately 50 people a year who are impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling.
Mrs Ozenturk added: ’Very often gambling problems develop because of trying to win back what you have lost, or because of a big win. Women are often more reluctant to come forward for help, because of the stigma and embarrassment, especially in smaller communities.’
The types of gambling women do can often differ from men’s choices.
The head of Motiv8 explained that women tend to go for online bingo and slots ’which you can arguably zone out on’, and they offer online chats with other players. These offer ’hours of distraction’.
Buying multiple scratch cards is also a popular gambling activity with women.
This is different to men, who may gamble on sports or take on activities that they see as involving a level of skill, such as card games, picking a winning horse in racing, or sporting events.
Signs that a person could have a gambling addiction include uncontrolled spending, mounting debts, concealing or lying about gambling behaviour, withdrawal from family activities, spending excessive amounts of time on a computer, tablet or phone and absence from education or work.
Motiv8 offers free one to one confidential counselling and support. There is also a smart recovery group, a mutual aid programme for all types of addictive behaviours. This runs three times a week at Motiv8 and is open to anyone impacted by gambling disorder.
