Grassroots football players five times more likely to be problem gamblers, study finds
Football players are five times more likely to have a gambling problem than the average person, experts say, according to new research.
The new study from the University of Bristol also found that more than one in five grassroots players aged 11 to 15 had gambled in the last month; This raises concerns about how young people are exposed to gambling through football.
In response, researchers are calling for stricter national legislation to curb gambling advertising, marketing and sponsorship in football and other sports.
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who has been outspoken about tackling problem gambling for 45 years, said the scale of the problem showed the urgent need for tighter regulations.
he said Independent The “massive” volume of gambling advertising around football is the main cause of the problem. “I think there’s too much advertising, and the way it’s advertised is because it’s a group of young people or people having fun,” he said.
“But it can get addictive very quickly.”
Mr Shilton also warned that easy access to gambling, particularly through social media, increases the risk of addiction and means young people are more likely to gamble.
“It is difficult to learn that an average of two players in every grassroots team have a gambling problem, and it is deeply concerning that 22 per cent of young people aged 11-15 admit to gambling on football in the last month,” he said.
Co-chair author of the study, Dr. Raffaello Rossi said: “The presence of gambling logos on jerseys, around stadiums and on social media for years has ensured that betting is fully linked to football culture, right down to the grassroots clubs.
“I believe the high levels of gambling problems we see among grassroots players are a direct result of this, and our new evidence supports this.
“Football should be a healthy activity that brings people together, so it is extremely saddening and worrying that instead it is entwined with addiction and harm and the problem is getting worse.”
The research found that 13 per cent of adult grassroots football players met the threshold for “problem gambling”, with this rate rising to 16 per cent among men alone, six times higher than the general male population.
Those who played football as a hobby had a 70 percent risk of being negatively affected by gambling, compared to 15 percent of the general population.
As part of the study, researchers surveyed 270 grassroots players aged 11 to 68 from across Southern England.
The FA’s Social Return on Investment 2024 report estimates that around 15.7 million people in the UK are involved in grassroots football.
Mr Shilton said the problem also existed at higher level and there were “absolutely” hidden gamblers in professional football.
A spokesman for the Advertising Standards Authority said: “We have well-established rules that require gambling ads to be responsible and not target sensitive audiences. We monitor gambling ads closely and take tough action in the small minority of cases where we see ads that breach these rules.”
Co-chairman of the research, Dr. Maria Moxey said: “Our study shows this is a huge problem and one that is largely overlooked among gamers of all ages. The findings underline the need for much more professional help and support for players, as well as industry regulation, to deal effectively with the problem.”
“Gambling is part of everyday life for many grassroots players. Rather than being a separate hobby alongside football, it is built into being part of a grassroots club and into their personal identity.
“Betting conversations happen everywhere: during training, in changing rooms, on the way to the game, after the game and in social media groups throughout the week. Weekends often involve playing football, then watching football, placing bets and drinking together, without even realizing that they are vulnerable and prone to many different types of gambling harms with serious permanent consequences.”
