The purpose of this briefing is to provide an overview of the scale and impact of gambling-related harms, outline the aims, approach and key actions of the gambling harms prevention project, and its alignment with wider public health and community safety priorities. It will also present current understanding of harm, identify key challenges, risks and opportunities for further development, and seek the Board’s feedback, challenge and support to strengthen delivery and overall impact.

Zoe Clifford introduced the report, noting that public health teams were now tasked with addressing gambling-related harms as part of their responsibilities.  Claudia Ciurleo delivered the presentation ‘Gambling Harms’.

The briefing outlined the range of in-person and online gambling activity and the potential impacts of problem gambling on employment, finances, housing, relationships, physical and mental health, and wider family and community wellbeing. Key points included:

i.             Approximately £33k of first-year funding in Herefordshire was anticipated from the statutory gambling levy.

ii.            Predictors of gambling participation and harm were noted but these were based on national assessments and there was a need to understand the picture locally.

iii.          Modelling suggested that more than 18,000 Herefordshire residents may fall within lower or moderate Problem Gambling Severity Index risk categories and more than 3,000 within the highest category.

iv.          Current support for Herefordshire residents was largely national or regional, with limited local face-to-face provision. 

It was reported that a Gambling Harms Needs Assessment was being developed to strengthen the evidence base, map provision and gaps, identify vulnerable people already in contact with services, develop stronger partnership working, and embed gambling harms awareness and support into existing services.

The Chairperson commented on changing patterns of gambling, particularly increasing online participation and targeted advertising, including campaigns aimed at women.

The Leader of the Council noted the difficulty of identifying problem gambling where activity took place privately online.  It was suggested that the council could engage with local betting shops and operators.  Claudia Ciurleo said that the intelligence team had been tasked with mapping gambling establishments, and that engagement with operators could form part of the work being developed.

Jo Newton highlighted potential safeguarding implications of problem gambling and commented on the proposed introduction of Financial Risk Assessments to identify customers who may be experiencing financial difficulties.

Stephen Brewster noted that voluntary and community organisations might encounter the consequences of gambling through mental health and debt support, and offered to help gather information from the sector. 

Zoe Clifford identified the Crisis and Resilience Fund as another possible source of insight.

Dr Nigel Fraser suggested that brief gambling-risk questions could potentially be incorporated into established health checks.  Claudia Ciurleo said this aligned with the aim of making every contact count.

Liz Farr confirmed that gambling risks were covered within secondary-school personal, social, health and economic education, and offered links with secondary headteachers.

Sarah Shingler suggested that the partner organisations could also strengthen awareness within workforce health and wellbeing arrangements.

Resolved:  That the contents of the briefing paper be noted.

Action:        Partner organisations to consider what contribution could be made through their own services and workforces to the developing Gambling Harms Needs Assessment.  Relevant contact details to be circulated to board members.