Gambling With Lives

The Campaign

Gambling with Lives was founded by families who had all experienced the same loss — the death of a loved one due to gambling-related suicide. In seeking answers, the families discovered an industry profiting from harm, and a system that blamed those most affected. The families came together to share their experiences, challenge the dominant narrative of personal individual responsibility, and expose the structural and political failures that  contributed to this harm. They have spoken truth to power and achieved meaningful change to protect others. 

The Change

The campaign has helped shift the conversation from focusing on individuals to examining the responsibility of industry products and practices systems and industries. It has led to increased scrutiny of regulatory and institutional failings, greater engagement from health and other professionals, and a move towards more complete evidence-based and independent evidence-based information. Two landmark achievements include the introduction of a statutory levy to ensure independent, sustainable funding for treatment, prevention, and research – free from industry influence – and the publication of NICE guidelines on gambling harm, which recommends that healthcare professionals routinely screen for gambling and refer early on. Crucially, the campaign has helped ensure that the voices of bereaved families are heard and taken seriously in public and policy debates. 

The Future

The bereaved families want to see a future where families and gamblers in recovery are listened to without judgment or stigma, and where support is available from people who truly understand their experiences. Where every gambling-related suicide is fully examined and lessons are learned and used to strengthen improve systems and regulation, and to reduce the risk to others. And where prevention is prioritised — limiting exposure, reforming harmful products and practices, and delivering public health messaging that informs and protects.