The island’s gambling support service has seen a ’significant’ increase in problem online betting since the service was set up in 2011.

GamCare Isle of Man, a branch of Motiv8 Addiction Services, has seen a 60% rise in referrals from gamblers who bet using social media and websites from 2011 to 2018.

It initially found a quarter of its referrals concerned online gambling, but it now accounts for more than half of its referrals.

Motiv8 chief executive Thea Ozenturk said: ’There may be many reasons for this. One possible reason could be that gambling online today offers many more choices; you can gamble online with any device on any type of gambling activity.’

’Advertising for gambling activities has few restrictions and social media is just one outlet where gambling companies can advertise.’

GamCare, an affiliated partner of GamCare UK, has offered over 3,100 appointments since 2011 to problem gamblers, family members and children who have been impacted by parental problem gambling.

It has had 426 referrals since 2011, 93.7% of which were self referrals. Some 62.7% were men and 37.3% were women. Three hundred were gamblers and 126 were people affected by someone else’s gambling.

In its annual report 2018-2019, Motiv8 reported 72 new gambling referrals, 43 male and 29 female. The largest age group was 26-35 years. Two referrals were people aged 16 and below.

Taboo

The highest type of gambling identified was ’online fruit/slots’ at 19% with ’online casino games’ at 15%.

’Online sports betting’, ’online general betting and bookies’, ’general, sports and horses’ were the next largest groups at 10% each.

A Motiv8 spokesman said it was unknown whether the increase in problem online gambling was due to people having more access through websites and social media or whether people were more aware of GamCare and so have contacted the services for support.

It is believed that gambling has become less of a taboo as it is talked about more openly and therefore there may be less feelings of shame attached to admitting you have a gambling habit and asking for help, the charity said.

According to the service, to be diagnosed with gambling disorder an individual would need to score four or more ’show signs’. These include a person needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve a desired excitement; being restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling; making repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling; lying about their extent of involvement in gambling; and having lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling.

GamCare, which relies on donations from the local gambling industry, offers free counselling and psychological therapies to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s gambling.

It delivers problem gambling and gaming awareness education sessions in secondary schools and has made prison visits for affected individuals.

To book an appointment or to support GamCare by raising funds, call 622011 or email [email protected]