Views Sought Over Strategy To Reduce Gambling Harm

12 February 2026
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Andrew DawkinsWest Midlands


People in a city are being advised to share their experiences of betting and what problems it can cause as a council aims to safeguard vulnerable locals.


Two consultations have been started by City of Wolverhampton Council, one for adults and the other for children and youths.


Evidence recommended 1.2% of the city's population fulfilled the requirements to be described as problem gamblers, more than double the nationwide average, a spokesperson said.


The experiences individuals share will enter into reducing the damage from the issue, they added.


Harms might consist of monetary hardship, relationship breakdown and mental health issues, the spokesperson said.


From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton residents looked for aid from the charity Aquarius, which supports people affected by gambling.


But the council spokesperson stated they approximated 8,570 individuals could have taken advantage of the group's support.


Signs that somebody might have an issue with betting consist of sensations of anxiety or tension around their gambling habit, wagering more than they can pay for to lose, and gaming ever bigger amounts of cash to feel the very same "high" as before.


Councillor Obaida Ahmed said the authority wanted their strategy to be formed by genuine experiences and "grounded in what our communities tell us they need".


"Your voice matters - whether you have actually been personally impacted, know somebody who has, or just wish to contribute to a more secure, healthier city," she included, with a deadline for remarks by 20 March.


Research from the annual national Youth and 2025 showed a noteworthy increase in gambling participation among 11 to 17 years of age, with 30% reporting that they had spent their own cash on gaming in the past year, up from 27% in 2024.


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