We research and dissect the GambleAware survey that claims 5 million Brits want to quit or reduce their gambling.
GambleAware, soon to become a redundant service in the UK, has released another interesting survey stating that 5 million British gamblers want to cut down on how much they bet, whether it’s online casino or sports betting.
Yes, we hear you. It sounds like another one of those surveys targeting people with problem gambling issues, but the reason this particular survey piqued my interest is that it actually involves people who do not have a gambling problem.
Survey Stats Show 75% Want to Cut Back
GambleAware’s Treatment & Support survey, conducted by YouGov, is essentially saying that you don’t need a gambling problem to want better control over your betting.
The data shows 3.9 million people want to reduce their gambling despite not experiencing problem gambling symptoms.
This gambling news highlights a growing awareness among players about maintaining healthy betting habits.
In some ways, it’s like cutting back on the amount of chocolate you eat or the number of times you spend money on a Starbucks coffee delivery rather than just making your own.
The survey stats we’ve broken down in our latest gambling news report come directly from the GambleAware news pages. The title of the report on their website is titled – Research estimates over five million people in Britain want to reduce or quit gambling.
The Numbers Behind the Survey
| Key Finding | Number of People |
|---|---|
| Total wanting to reduce/quit gambling | 5+ million |
| Those without gambling problems | 3.9 million (75%) |
| Young adults (18-34) seeking to reduce | 2 million |
| Young adults who gamble wanting to cut back | 3 in 10 |
Support Tools Usage Since Launch
| Service | Usage Statistics / Launch Date |
|---|---|
| Service Finder searches | 42,000+ searches (July 2024) |
| Referral clicks to support providers | 13,000+ clicks (July 2024) |
| Self-Assessment tool completions | 87,000+ (April 2023) |
| Spend Calculator completions | 6,000 (December 2023) |
FYI: GambleAware has admitted in the past that Surveys Can Overestimate Occurrence of Gambling Harm, so take these stats with a pinch of salt, although it still makes for an interesting read.
Are You One of These Players?
If you’re reading this and thinking about cutting back your gambling, you’re far from alone. As mentioned in the introduction, the survey makes one thing clear: wanting to reduce your betting doesn’t mean you have a problem. It means you’re taking control. Many players want to keep gambling as entertainment but reduce the financial and time commitment. This is completely normal and something you can achieve with the right approach.
Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines
There are a few guidelines that we feel are practical to follow if you do gamble, and the three most important for us are as follows:
- Gamble no more than 1% of your income: This is the guideline, but it’s not easy. If you earn €/$/£2,000 per month, then the guideline suggests you gamble €/$/£20 per month. For most players within this income bracket, €/$/£200, so 10% of income tends to be the norm.
- Gamble on no more than 4 days per month: Only gambling 4 days per month is another unrealistic target suggested, especially for slot players, and a more sensible target for sports bettors, in my opinion.
- Avoid more than 2 types of gambling per month: I am not sure how the type of gambling you choose makes any difference, but all the same, it’s something that GambleAware suggests.
Overall, the targets set are sensible, very sensible, but also unrealistic for most people who gamble. However, it is also good to know that these are the official stats suggested by experts.
Casinoplusbonus Guidelines
Look, we are not overruling the experts here; we are just being more realistic on how to cut down on gambling if that is your goal. As experienced gamblers here at Casinoplusbonus, and I myself, I’ve been gambling since 1996 without any issues, and we are going to give some insider advice. It’s entirely up to you if you want to follow the steps we have laid out below.
Setting strict budgets is your first line of defense. If you currently spend £500 per month on gambling, here’s how to cut that in half:
Example: Reducing Monthly Spend from £500 to £250
- Set a weekly budget of £62.50 (£250 ÷ 4 weeks)
- Divide the weekly amount into daily limits: £8.90 per day if you play 7 days, or £15.60 if you play 4 days
- Stop playing once you hit your daily limit
- Never chase losses by exceeding your budget
For detailed strategies on managing your gambling budget, see our complete guide to responsible gambling and bankroll management tips.
If you currently gamble 4 hours per day, responsible gambling tools can help you reduce that:
Example: Cutting Daily Gambling Time
- To reduce by 25%: Set session limits to 3 hours per day
- To reduce by 50%: Set session limits to 2 hours per day
- Use reality check reminders every 30 minutes
- Enable automatic logout when time limits are reached
Most reputable online casinos offer these tools in their account settings. Look for:
- Deposit limits (daily, weekly, monthly)
- Session time limits
- Reality check notifications
- Self-exclusion options
- Cooling-off periods
Online Casinos With Responsible Gambling Tools
| Casinos | Responsible Gambling Tools |
|---|---|
| UK Online Casinos
(British Players) |
Every British player who plays at an online gambling site operating under the rules of the UK Gambling Commission has access to deposit limits, loss limits, wager limits, session time limits, reality check, cooling off periods and self-exclusion tools. There is also the GAMSTOP network. |
| Malta Gaming Authority Casinos
(Players from Canada, South Africa, India, New Zealand and Ireland) |
All online casinos operating under the MGA licensing framework must also offer the same set of responsible gambling tools as those provided to British players by UKGC-licensed online casinos. |
| SOFTSWISS Casinos
(Players from Canada, South Africa, India, New Zealand and Ireland) |
Generally, the only responsible gambling tool not available at SOFTSWISS Casinos is a reality check, but we are seeing some casinos add this. Many of these online casinos operate under the Curaçao GCB licensing framework, overseen by the Curaçao Gambling Authority (CGA). |
Casinoplusbonus Opinion – Supporting Player Choice
The GambleAware data presents a nuanced situation. On one hand, it shows millions of players are self-aware and want to maintain control over their gambling habits. This demonstrates maturity and responsibility within the gambling community. The high use of support tools (87,000+ self-assessments) shows that players actively seek help when needed.
On the other hand, the fact that five million people feel they need to reduce their gambling raises questions about whether current industry practices adequately promote moderate play. While operators offer responsible gambling tools, the survey suggests many players struggle to implement them effectively without external support. We believe both perspectives have merit. Players should have the freedom to gamble as entertainment, but they also deserve accessible, effective tools to maintain control. The new statutory gambling harms system launching in April 2026 may help bridge this gap.
Ultimately, we support any player’s decision to reduce their gambling, regardless of whether they have a diagnosed problem. Taking control of your betting habits is always a smart move.
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