British lawmakers have cited statistics on suicide rates related to gambling to call for a review of gambling regulations by the government. However, industry experts are skeptical of the accuracy of these reported figures.
In a recent communication to Parliament, MP Layla Moran, who heads the Health and Social Care Select Committee, urged the government to conduct a fresh evaluation of the Gambling Act.
The letter emphasized the committee’s discovery that gambling was linked to significant levels of harm and suicide in the UK. It referenced data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) from 2023, estimating that there were between 117 and 496 suicides annually associated with problem gambling.
Nevertheless, various analysts in the sector have raised doubts about the validity of this data, suggesting that it is misleading and based on flawed research methodologies.
Melanie Ellis, a partner at the Northridge law firm, expressed frustration, stating, “It is disappointing that the letter begins with the discredited estimate of 117 to 496 gambling-related suicides in England each year.
“Overall, I believe it is highly improbable that this letter will trigger a new review of the Gambling Act, especially with the ongoing implementation of the 2023 white paper’s recommendations.”
Origins of the Gambling-Related Suicide Rate
The data on gambling-related suicides in the UK originated from the country’s inaugural state-sponsored assessment in 2021. A report by Public Health England revealed that there were 409 gambling-related suicides annually in England.
This initial study was later superseded by a 2023 OHID update, which indicated that the number of gambling-related suicides ranged from 117 to 496.
Dan Waugh, a partner at Regulus Partners, highlighted in a 2024 report that both OHID and Public Health England based their estimates on a 2018 study of patient records from Swedish hospitals between 2006 and 2016, conducted by Dr. Anna Karlsson and Professor Anders Håkansson of Lund University.
Public Health England extrapolated the suicide mortality rates from the Swedish study, indicating that problem gamblers were 15.1 times more likely to commit suicide, arriving at an estimate of 409 gambling-related deaths annually in the UK.
In 2023, OHID used the same methodology to determine the range of suicides associated with gambling disorder, between 117 and 409.
Waugh insisted, ““They disregarded crucial details and clear warnings about the inadequacy of their methods.
“The patients in the ‘Swedish study’ had various diagnosed mental and physical health conditions, making them prone to self-harm, regardless of gambling disorder presence or absence.”
The authors of the Swedish study, Karlsson & Håkansson, acknowledged that the results were skewed toward individuals with more severe forms of gambling disorders.
In a subsequent 2020 study, Karlsson and Håkansson identified alcohol and drug misuse as additional factors in reported suicide attempts.
Vocal Panel Members
In 2022, then-Health Minister Maggie Throup informed Parliament that the Public Health England report would be reassessed, and the methodology used for the estimates would be disclosed.
However, this information has not been made public yet, and there have been changes in government following an election.
Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, a member of the OHID expert panel, publicly stated at a Social Market Foundation event in 2022 that methodologies from other countries cannot be directly applied to assess suicide rates accurately.
“We cannot extrapolate from Swedish studies, from Norwegian studies – it doesn’t work,” remarked Bowden-Jones.
Suicide Rates Tied to Gambling
Quantifying suicide rates attributed to a single factor like gambling is challenging, as suicides can be multifactorial and influenced by a range of mental and physical health issues.
In the UK, there is limited recent public data from the government on the relationship between gambling and suicide.
Information from the UK’s Office for National Statistics indicated that between 2001 and 2016, there were 21 suicides in England and Wales where “gamble/gambled or gambling” was mentioned on the death certificate.
However, the Office for National Statistics cautioned about interpreting this data, noting that it may not be entirely reliable as coroners might not consistently record detailed information about the deceased’s history.
Waugh, a vocal figure on this issue, acknowledged that gambling disorder increases the risk of suicide.
But he emphasized the need for context: “Understanding this can be valuable in formulating strategies for preventing self-harm.”
Approaching the Future
If data is to be presented on the prevalence of gambling-related suicides, clear methodologies and standardized definitions should be utilized. Questions such as the duration of gambling, diagnosis of gambling addiction, and presence of medical comorbidities should be addressed.
While a consensus on the exact numbers may be lacking, it is essential to remember that individuals do die due to gambling-related harm and disorders. Prioritizing accurate data is crucial, but the emotional toll on families affected by gambling-related suicides, like the Ritchie family from Gambling with Lives, should not be overlooked.
The Ritchies, who lost their son Jack in 2017, shared their firsthand experience with the recent Health and Social Care Committee, a narrative that should not be diminished by potentially flawed statistics.
