NHS Gambling Addiction Centre Urges Women To Seek Help With Free Childcare
3rd December, 2009
Mothers who are addicted to gambling are now being given free childcare in an attempt to tackle the problem. Whilst women are being treated for their addictions, the national problem gambling clinic in Soho (the NHS’s only facility of its kind) will be offering childcare for free whilst the women are being treated; as the demands of childcare and the stigma attached to addiction make it hard for women to seek treatment.
The gambling commission has estimated that there are over 250,000 problem gamblers in the UK, with Gambling Anonymous quoting more than 600,000. Women with problem gambling habits have doubled in recent years making them a quarter of the addicts.
Many experts believe that the explosion of online gambling is to blame as brick and mortar casinos are less female friendly than online versions.
Dr Bowden-Jones, head of the clinic, said that some women can play up to 10hrs per day online. “Women are playing online when their partners are at work then shut down the web when their husbands come home. It's made easy for you as long as you have a credit card. There are sites which are targeting women. But the children are placed in front of the TV so the children are not getting the emotional nurturing. By offering childcare, women can get treatment and know their children will be looked after and don't have to tell anyone where they are going.”
The clinic in Soho’s Frith Street opened in September and so far has treated 290 patients, however only a dozen have been females and are appealing for more females to come forward.
Those in their twenties and thirties who are going through the pain of depression or trauma are most at risk. She said: “Women problem gamblers have different emotional issues from men. Often they're depressed and gambling is a way of numbing the pain. They gain a short-time high.”
Currently there are around 2,000 online gambling websites, with an increasing amount focusing their efforts solely on women.
Simon Collins, director of Cashcade, says it has an 80 per cent female audience. Gambling sites try to provide safeguards to protect against addiction. Mr Collins said: “We have daily, weekly and monthly limits to prohibit huge spending.”
By Faye
