Wolverhampton City Council opened a consultation on a proposed four-year Gambling Harm Reduction Strategy, reportedly running until 20 March. The council said 5.3% of the local population is considered at risk of gambling-related harm and 1.2% show signs of problem gambling; 70 people accessed local specialist treatment between 2019 and 2022.
The consultation may shape local priorities for gambling harm prevention and support.
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UK Gambling Commission data cited in a media report shows that 664 of the UK’s 1,400 adult gaming centres are in the 20% most deprived areas. The UKGC said the venues were established through local-authority permits; GambleAware chief executive Anna Hargrave said communities facing financial hardship were twice as likely to experience gambling-related harm.
GambleAware said its State of the Nation report, based on a survey of 3,000 people aged 11–24, found that three in four respondents aged 11–17 thought the UK should do more to reduce gambling advertising and content. The charity also reported that seven in 10 found gambling advertising and content difficult to avoid, while one in three had encountered reward-based marketing in the previous month.
GambleAware’s report on gambling harms and young people in Great Britain cited UK Gambling Commission figures showing that 30% of 11- to 17-year-olds spent their own money on gambling in the past year. The report also noted that the regulator’s figures showed participation in unregulated markets rising from 15% to 18% between 2024 and 2025, while identifying limitations in the research evidence.
Castilla y León is developing a cross-sector strategy for preventing and treating gambling harm, regional official Ruth Andérez said at the ExpoCongreso in Torremolinos. She said the initiative involves public authorities, social organisations and businesses, as the region updates rules for land-based gambling following a reform of its Gaming Law. The region has 115 gaming halls and 12,240 machines in operation, according to Andérez.
Reportedly, Ukraine adopted its first national gambling addiction strategy on 28 August 2026. The plan runs until 2035 and brings together about 40 institutions. It includes prevention education, expanded treatment and rehabilitation, and stronger action against illegal gambling websites and advertising.