GAMBLING addicts require greater care and treatment, according to Dorset's PCC David Sidwick as he fears the rising cost of living may have damaging impacts. 

There are growing concerns that the present economic crisis will have a negative impact on gambling addicts. 

A quarter of gamblers have increased their habit over the last year, with those aged under 35 three times as likely to be spending more, according to research.

Almost half (46 per cent) of all under-35s are now gamblers, with one in three of them (30 per cent) admitting their habit has increased over the last 12 months, according to the Health, Wealth and Happiness Index by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) for life insurance broker LifeSearch.

Just under a third (32 per cent) of all Britons gamble, and 23 per cent say they have increased their habit over the past year.

Mr Sidwick said: "I believe that many people will reduce their spending due to the cost of living crisis, however, I fear for those where this is easier said than done.

"It is an addiction so people suffering will not be thinking logically. There may also be people who have started gambling because they're worried to death cost of living crisis."

A startling investigation has recently revealed that problem gambling is causing roughly one suicide every day. Mr Sidwick has called for gaming to be recognised as a "serious addiction".

Mr Sidwick said: "It’s a very complex problem. The biggest issue is people can gamble quietly in the comfort of their own homes which means in many cases, not even their loved ones know that they’re gambling.

"We've created police and crime commissioner checks. Which we've sent out to all the police and crime commissioners in the country."

The checklist improves understanding and offers information to raise awareness so that police and crime commissioners have a better understanding of the addiction.

Mr Sidwick said: "The laws need to be updated to reduce such harm but I think what we've also got to do is get the issue down to a local level.

"We need to start addressing the problem locally. There isn't the same understanding of addiction in the way there is with drugs and alcohol, so gambling needs this same kind of understanding and investment.

"Gambling is a cause of crime. We know it's linked to theft, fraud and domestic abuse.

"For offenders, we need to understand how to help them, because ultimately what we're trying to do here is trying to reduce re-offending or to stop people at risk of people coming into harm.

"Over the next few weeks, I'll be talking to other PCC colleagues about this."

If you are struggling with gambling addiction you can get free advice and support through ARA, recovery for all, on 0330 1340 286.