As Liverpool prepares for the Grand National, a campaign has been launched to tackle the harms of gambling.
Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool City Council have collaborated in this joint effort to educate the community.
The campaign follows a detailed report on the prevalence of gambling across Liverpool, as well as the harms that are associated with it in what Liverpool City Council described as an “under-researched issue”.
The Grand National is a horse racing event held annually in Aintree, and a famous hotspot for all forms of gambling.
Prof. Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health, said: “While the gambling industry has long pushed the narrative of this being a harmless recreational activity, for a significant proportion of people, it carries risks that can have devastating consequences for them, their families, and the communities in which they live.”
The report showed some striking findings across Liverpool specifically:
- 29.1% of adults have gambled within the last 12 months.
- 11.8% of adults are at risk of gambling-related harm.
- 4% of adults experienced household gambling as an adverse childhood experience.
- 17.9% of gamblers surveyed felt financially poorer than their friends and family; 9.2% felt the opposite.
- 16.1% of gamblers surveyed had no qualifications; 9.4% do have qualifications.
- 14.5% were found to be neurodivergent; 9.1% were found to be neurotypical.
The report also found a correlation between gambling and drug use with those at a “moderate to high” risk of gambling harm deemed 3.6x more likely to smoke tobacco or vape daily, and 4.3x more likely to have used drugs in the past year.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said: “The research, carried out in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, is a vital step in identifying those most at risk and ensuring they receive the right support. “
Much of this data comes from the Merseyside Violence and Community Safety (MerVCom) survey, as well as insights from residents within the Merseyside area, and helps to identify those most at risk and the key factors contributing to harm.
Consequently, Liverpool Council has launched an engagement process, that will bring together key stakeholders to develop a plan to tackle gambling-related harm, which will involve a series of workshops and discussions focused on generating practical, evidence-informed strategies for change.
All of this comes just before the 2025 Grand National kicks off this Saturday, April 5, and will usher in an annual increase in gambling prevalence.
