More women falling foul of gambling

GamCare claims that a quarter of its messageboard users are female, up from just two per cent of clients in 2000.

“Gambling has become so accessible and so de-stigmatised that, unfortunately, it can only get worse,” gambling expert Faith Freestone told BBC’s Six O’Clock News after the broadcaster obtained a report from GamCare.

“As more people are exposed to gambling, more people will become addicted.”

Online casinos and gambling with credit cards have been blamed for the rise in female players, as traditional betting shops are still seen as predominantly male.

According to GamCare 6,563 people used the charity for counselling in 2005, up by 41.3 per cent from 2004.