Report
Qualitative research on the consequences of gambling
Qualitative research on the consequences of gambling: follow-up interviews with participants from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain
Contents
- Executive summary
- 1 - Introduction
- 2 - Methodology
- 3 - Overview of impacts of gambling on participants
- 4 - Participants’ journeys with adverse or severe consequences from gambling
- 5 - Interrelation of different adverse or severe consequences from gambling
- 6 - Preventing and reducing consequences
- 7 - Conclusion and recommendations
- Appendix A - Qualitative research on the consequences of gambling
3 - Overview of impacts of gambling on participants
Participants discussed the impacts of their gambling participation, and whether they perceived those impacts to be either positive or negative. This chapter summarises the range of impacts described by participants and sets the scene for a more in-depth discussion on participants’ journeys with adverse consequences from their gambling and the interrelation of different adverse consequences, which are respectively explored in Chapters 4 and 5. When reviewing these impacts, it should be noted that this research mainly focuses on negative consequences and participants were chosen due to their reported experience of negative consequences. All participants had indicated in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) that they had experienced potentially adverse or severe consequences ‘occasionally’, ‘fairly often’ or ‘very often’. Therefore, this group may be more likely to highlight the negative impacts of gambling than people who had not indicated these consequences. However, participants also reported positive impacts linked to their gambling experience, which had occurred at varying points and mixed with negative consequences. In some cases, negative and positive impacts followed each other or occurred at different times and in other cases these impacts occurred simultaneously. This chapter begins by outlining findings about the positive consequences of gambling.
3.1. Positive impacts related to gambling participation
Impacts on resources
Participants who had won money from gambling discussed this as a positive financial consequence. One participant who also experienced negative financial impacts felt that gambling had a positive impact on their work performance (and subsequently their income) because it made them more motivated to earn money to offset financial losses from gambling.
‘There are times when I have won, and sometimes I won what are considerable sums of money - not that would change my life - but they're... It was worthwhile.’
– Male participant aged over 55 years
Relationship impacts
Participants also described positive impacts that gambling had on their relationships. Participants discussed how gambling can be an enjoyable bonding experience that provides additional opportunities to socialise with friends or spend time with family members. One participant was able to make new friends by attending social gatherings centred on gambling. Participants also reported sharing their gambling wins with family or using them to pay for gifts or shared activities (for example, meals), which further consolidated their relationships.
‘We'll make a whole night of it [going to the bingo club] and just lately the last few times my granddaughter who is now 19 she's been coming with us as well, so 3 of us are going and making a night of it. So, making it an enjoyable outing really.’
– Female participant aged over 55 years
Health and wellbeing impacts
Participants also highlighted positive impacts gambling had on their wellbeing. Most participants described experiencing positive emotions (for example, happiness, excitement, pride) following a win. Participants also highlighted finding enjoyment in the act of gambling itself. For example, participants betting on sports described how it can make watching sporting fixtures more enjoyable. Participants who gambled with friends or family highlighted that it can be a fun social experience which contributed to their wellbeing.
‘I enjoy it. Out of everything, I enjoy it. When I gamble and I can see that my analysis, my calculation is right, I'll be very proud of myself.’
– Male participant aged 25 to 34 years
3.2. Negative impacts related to gambling participation
Impacts on resources
Negative financial consequences were a common experience among participants, who described a range of financial impacts related to their own gambling. As captured in their survey responses, participants reported reducing their spending on everyday items such as groceries. Participants also reduced spending on items which were not essential but would have been enjoyable, such as social outings with friends, new clothing items, or holidays. This had varied impacts on participants. Some participants felt these financial consequences had minimal impacts on their lives. However, for others this led to reduced opportunities for socialising, frustration at missing out on those opportunities and feelings of guilt (for example, guilt about having less money for family activities). Some participants had used money from their savings to gamble and in other cases, participants described taking on extra shifts, borrowing money from friends and family, or taking out credit cards to pay for the everyday expenses they could not afford due to gambling losses.
‘It's just the bills I think really when I haven't been able to go out anywhere or I've used the money for food [on gambling] where I've had to go and borrow money so I could eat.’
– Female participant aged 35 to 54 years
Amongst the more severe financial impacts, participants highlighted the inability to pay off loans and bills. One participant could not afford to pay utility bills due to spending money on gambling, which caused their family to have no heating and electricity on multiple occasions. Another participant lost their home after falling behind on their mortgage payments, leaving them unhoused for several months. Participants also reported negative impacts related to work and school performance, including being distracted from their work or study, being unable to meet deadlines, or missing work to take part in gambling. This caused one participant to lose their job and another to fail some of their university classes.
‘I still buy scratch cards, but just it's more controlled now because I lost everything, didn't I? I lost my house, I lost my job, so I was homeless on the streets and then after that, I got back on my feet again. Then since then, obviously I'm terrified it will happen again, so in my head... I still gamble but nowhere near as bad as I used to.’
– Female participant aged 35 to 54 years
Relationship impacts
Participants reported that their gambling had negatively impacted the quality of their social connections and relationships. In some cases, this was because participants had not been truthful with others about the extent of their gambling out of embarrassment or to avoid conflict. Other participants identified that gambling activities led them to reduce the amount of time they spent with family or friends. Some participants also described situations of direct conflict, including arguments with friends and family who were worried about their gambling or upset about financial consequences related to gambling. In some instances, this contributed to the breakdown of relationships.
‘She was like, “You're not paying the bills.” The arguments were really intense. I went, “Right, we'll just move on. We'll split.”’
– Male participant aged 35 to 54 years
Health and wellbeing impacts
Participants also highlighted a variety of negative impacts related to their health and wellbeing. This included stress (due to monetary losses from gambling and subsequently needing to borrow money) and guilt (over the time spent gambling and the repercussions on their family and friends). Some participants also reported experiencing depression and anxiety related to gambling. In some cases, these impacts were significant, with one participant highlighting a suicide attempt related to their gambling. Participants described the heavy mental burden caused by constant worry about financial losses from gambling. In some instances, participants explained how this mental burden also affected their physical health, causing them to forego sleep, healthy eating, or exercise.
‘I used to be a very fit person, wake up early, go to the gym, eat well, eat healthy and things but now it's just... I just find it difficult to even eat because I'm thinking what I've done in terms of gambling.’
– Male participant aged 35 to 54 years
2. Methodology to Qualitative research on the consequences of gambling Next section
4. Participants’ journeys with adverse or severe consequences from gambling
Last updated: 8 May 2025
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