One in six men who play football at an amateur level are experiencing gambling problems, according to the study, with one player commenting "football and gambling just go together like eggs and bacon."
The research, led by the University of Bristol, found that 13% of adult grassroots footballers, met the threshold for 'problem gambling' – five times higher than the general population (2.5%). This proportion rises to 16.4% among adult men, which is more than six times higher than of men in the general population (3.3%).
Study findings also showed people who play football as a hobby have a much greater risk of being negatively affected by gambling, with nearly 70% being at-risk in contrast to around 15% among the general population. In addition, results indicated an alarming number of child players are already gambling.
Study co-lead author Dr Maria Moxey, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, said: "The association of gambling with professional football is widely reported, but this is the first to explore the relationship at a grassroots game level nationally. Our study shows it's a massive problem, which is largely falling under the radar, among players of all ages. The findings highlight the need for much more professional help and support for players, as well as industry regulation to tackle the issue effectively."
Some 14 million people in the UK play grassroots football in their leisure time. The research exposes how gambling, watching football, playing football, and social alcohol drinking form an interlocked 'nexus' which dominates players' lives.
"Gambling is woven into everyday life for many grassroots players. Rather than being a separate hobby that sits alongside football, it is built into what it means to be part of a grassroots club and their personal identity. One player summed it up as being 'a way of life'," Dr Moxey explained.
"Betting talk happens everywhere: during training, in the changing rooms, on the way to matches, after matches, and in social media groups throughout the week. Weekends often involve playing football, then watching football, placing bets and drinking together, without even realising they are vulnerable and prone to many different gambling harms which have serious lasting consequences."
The study surveyed 270 grassroots players aged between 11 and 68 years old from across south England. Results revealed more than one in five (22%) of the 11 to 15-year-old participants reported having gambled over the past month.
The research also included around 40 in-depth interviews with grassroots players, coaches, and club officials to gain a clearer understanding of the pervasive issue.
Backing up the researchers' comprehensive analysis of gambling advertising during the Premier League season, they similarly found that the digitalisation of betting has made it easy to gamble anytime, anywhere. Study participants described finishing their own games at the weekend, heading to the clubhouse or pub, taking out their phones and placing bets on live matches as part of a standard weekend. Social interaction in pubs, clubhouses and social media groups was shown to further fuel betting, as teammates share tips, compare bets and react to results together.
One study interviewee commented: "Gambling always kind of felt like it's hand in hand with football…On a Saturday everyone says 'Oh, have you put a bet on today? Who are you betting on?'. Then when your game finishes everyone's in the pub or in the bar seeing what games are coming in, what the results are."
Another explained: "When I want to be social with especially some of my guy friends, we watch football. We bet on it. We drink...It's just a way to just do anything… football's life. It's part of the culture. It's like football and drinking and football and gambling. They just go together like eggs and bacon."
The study also uncovered how gambling wins can act as a form of 'cultural capital' within clubs. Knowledge of football and betting success are used to gain respect and status among teammates, particularly for younger players trying to impress older, more established members of the squad, responses revealed.
One interviewee commented: "There's definitely a thing within football…there's a status of like, as well as being good at it, your knowledge of football is also respected. For younger generations, it's giving them credence of their own knowledge of football, it gives validation – 'I do know loads about football.'"
Study co-lead author Dr Raffaello Rossi, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Bristol, said: "Years of gambling logos on shirts, around stadiums and across social media have hard-wired betting into football culture, right down to grassroots clubs. I am convinced the high levels of gambling problems we see among grassroots players are a direct result of this, and our new evidence supports that. Football should be a healthy activity that brings people together, so it's hugely sad and concerning it has instead become bound up with addiction and harm, and the problem is only worsening."
The researchers are calling for much stricter national legislation to be implemented to limit the amount of gambling marketing and sponsorship around sport, as is already now the case in countries such as Spain, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They also want more action by the Football Association and other governing bodies to incorporate gambling harms prevention education into coach training, extending beyond the professional game and encompassing all levels of grassroots football.
Worthing Town Football Club was one of the clubs involved in the study.
Mark Vennis Lead Coach and Welfare Officer at Worthing Town Football Club, said: "As one of the largest grassroots clubs in Sussex, we take immense pride in our commitment to providing safe access to football, recognising the positive impact this has on the mental and physical health of our 600-plus members.
"While significant progress has been made in the areas of Welfare and Safeguarding within football, we believe it is vital to ensure a fun and safe environment that also addresses further hidden risks. We were delighted to support this research to help raise awareness of these less visible issues facing our community."
Former England football player Peter Shilton CBE, experienced gambling problems for 45 years until his wife Steph, a qualified therapist, helped him overcome the costly addiction.
Peter said: "Steph and myself have been campaigning desperately over the past few years to try and stop the UK's obsession with gambling and football, we know firsthand the devastation gambling harms brings to individual and their loved ones. Sadly, we saw this coming. It's difficult to learn that, on average, around two players in every grassroots team are experiencing gambling problems and deeply concerning that 22% of 11-15 year olds admitted to gambling on football in the past month.
"We raised our concerns several years ago as we predicted gambling is now so ingrained in the football culture. Football should never carry this level of harm, unless this is addressed sadly the number will rise."
Lord Carlile of Berriew, who plans to table a question on the issue in the House of Lords, said: "This report provides evidence of real concern to the football world and to all of us who love the game. Gambling inside and around football has reached epidemic proportions. The report justifies urgent measures to help young players and supporters to escape a serious addiction, and to improve football's image."
Dr Beccy Cooper, an MP who is part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, added: "These findings are deeply concerning and make it clear that the government cannot afford to take its eye off the ball when it comes to gambling and its influence on grassroots sport.
"The sheer scale of harm highlighted here shows that the risks are far greater than previously acknowledged and reinforces the need for urgent action. The government should commit to an immediate and thorough review of gambling advertising across grassroots sport to protect our communities and young people."
The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) is the questionnaire most commonly used to assess harmful gambling, with a score of eight and above indicating problem gambling.
The Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research, based at the University of Bristol, is a global hub for interdisciplinary research, which aims to raise awareness of gambling harms, strengthen consumer protection through policy change, and improve support and treatment.
The study was funded by Action Against Gambling Harms.
Paper
"They just go together like eggs and bacon": exploring the nexus of gambling and grassroots football in England by M. Moxey et al. in European Sports Management Quarterly
