Nearly half of West Midlands gamblers admit going to extremes to keep betting, survey finds

Nearly half of gamblers in the West Midlands have admitted going to potentially harmful lengths to keep playing or chase their losses, according to a new survey.

Research commissioned by gambling website Gamble Mind found 49 per cent of gamblers surveyed in the region had done at least one of a series of things including staying up all night, skipping meals, missing bills or using money intended for a child or dependant.

The figure puts the West Midlands joint fourth among the UK regions surveyed and level with the North East.

Almost a quarter of West Midlands respondents – 24 per cent – said they had stayed up all night gambling rather than sleeping.

Meanwhile, 11 per cent admitted secretly gambling during working hours, while nine per cent said they had skipped a meal to afford a bet.

Another nine per cent said they had missed paying a bill, rent, mortgage or utility payment in order to fund their gambling.

Perhaps most concerningly, five per cent said they had used money which had been set aside for a child or other dependant.

Four per cent also admitted gambling while in hospital or during the birth of a child.

The overall proportion of West Midlands gamblers reporting at least one of the behaviours was exactly in line with the UK average of 49 per cent.

Across Britain, the most commonly reported behaviour was staying up all night to gamble, with 23 per cent saying they had done so.

Around 13 per cent admitted secretly gambling at work, 12 per cent had skipped a meal to afford a bet and 11 per cent had missed a bill to fund their gambling.

Greater London recorded the highest overall figure, with 65 per cent of gamblers surveyed saying they had done at least one of the things listed, followed by the East of England on 53 per cent and the North West on 52 per cent.

Paulius Cubera, iGaming expert and chief editor at Gamble Mind, said the findings highlighted the point at which gambling could cease to be an enjoyable leisure activity.

He said: “When millions of people are secretly gambling at work, skipping meals, or missing bills just to keep playing, the question isn't how to stop people gambling. It's why so many feel they have to hide it rather than admit it's got out of hand.”

He added that greater openness about gambling habits could make it easier for people to recognise when gambling had “stopped being a choice”.

The research was based on a survey of 2,001 UK adults aged 18 and over who had gambled. It was carried out by Censuswide between August 21 and 24, 2026.

Participants were asked which behaviours they had ever engaged in to place a bet, continue playing or chase a loss, with respondents able to select more than one answer. The national population figures published alongside the survey were extrapolated from the results.

Anyone experiencing financial or personal difficulties because of gambling can contact the National Gambling Helpline, operated by GamCare, on 0808 8020 133.