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Study Reveals UK Football Players' Alarming Gambling Rates

12/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A University of Bristol study finds UK grassroots football players are five times more likely to have gambling issues.
The study finds 13% of adult players and over 20% of players aged 11–15 gambled in the past month.
Experts, including former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, link gambling advertising in football to the problem.
They call for stricter gambling-marketing rules to protect youth and for professional support and industry regulation.

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Story summary

A University of Bristol study finds UK grassroots football players are five times more likely to have gambling issues.
The study finds 13% of adult players and over 20% of players aged 11–15 gambled in the past month.
Experts, including former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, link gambling advertising in football to the problem.
They call for stricter gambling-marketing rules to protect youth and for professional support and industry regulation.