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 trigger as a council looks to safeguard susceptible residents.
Two assessments have been started by City of Wolverhampton Council, one for and the other for children and young individuals.
Evidence recommended 1.2% of the city's population satisfied the requirements to be described as problem gamblers, more than double the national average, a spokesperson stated.
The experiences individuals share will enter into lowering the harm from the problem, they added.
Harms might include financial challenge, relationship breakdown and psychological health problems, the spokesperson stated.
From 2019-22, 70 Wolverhampton residents sought aid from the charity Aquarius, which supports people affected by gambling.
But the council representative said they approximated 8,570 people might have benefited from the group's assistance.
Signs that somebody may have a problem with gambling consist of sensations of anxiety or stress around their gaming routine, betting more than they can pay for to lose, and gambling ever larger quantities of cash to feel the exact same "high" as before.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed said the authority wanted their strategy to be formed by real experiences and "grounded in what our communities tell us they need".
"Your voice matters - whether you have actually been personally impacted, know someone who has, or just want to contribute to a much safer, much healthier city," she added, with a due date for comments by 20 March.
Research from the annual nationwide Young People and Gambling Survey 2025 showed a noteworthy rise in betting participation among 11 to 17 year olds, 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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