Gamblers in region '25% more likely to suffer harm'

Bianca Colclough has used her own experiences to raise awareness about gambling addiction

People from the West Midlands are 25% more likely than the rest of the UK to suffer harm from gambling, data collected by a charity has revealed.

Figures show about 168,000 adults in the region find their gambling is damaging them or their family and it often disrupts their daily life and career.

Coventry has reported the highest level of adults experiencing problem gambling, at 5.1% of the population, followed by Birmingham at 4.5%, then Sandwell at 4%, the GambleAware charity said.

A Staffordshire woman who overcame a 12-year gambling addiction has joined a campaign to help others suffering from gambling harm.

'I felt deep shame'

While working in the corporate recruitment industry Bianca Colclough, 43, was hiding a secret addiction to slot machines and casinos.

The addiction shattered her personality and relationships.

"When I started opening up about my gambling a huge weight lifted off my shoulders," she said.

"I felt deep shame about my gambling, but I soon realised that once you open up, people understand you and it becomes easier to overcome the problems you have.

"No one should have to struggle on their own, and help is out there.”

The research comes as GambleAware tries to encourage people in the West Midlands to open up about their gambling

It is part of its wider campaign to tackle stigma, which it says is the single biggest barrier to people seeking support.

Figures show that up to 75% of those who experience problems with gambling do not feel able to open up to family and friends.

A billboard inspired and co-produced by former sufferers has been installed in St Martins Square in Birmingham city centre as part of the campaign.

It reads: “Gambling clouded everything I did” alongside details on local support and advice.

Dr Joanne Lloyd has encouraged sufferers to seek help

“Understanding stigma in relation to gambling harms is not as advanced as some other conditions – so we still have a lot to learn from the research that is currently underway," said Dr Joanne Lloyd, associate professor and gambling harms expert at University of Wolverhampton.

"Most importantly, there’s no shame in asking for help, it’s one of the best steps you can take if you are suffering.”

Ex Stoke City Player Tony Kelly has also thrown his support behind the campaign.

The research also shows that those from minority groups who gamble are twice as likely to be experiencing any level of gambling harm than white British people (42% vs 20%), despite being less likely to have gambled in the past four weeks (31% vs 48% respectively).

More than a quarter (28%) believe if a person from their background gambled, it would bring embarrassment and shame on people from the same community, compared to just 9% from white British participants.