New campaign to tackle city's youth gambling issue

A new campaign will be launched in Bradford to target young people at risk of gambling addiction as a report revealed that "problem" gambling costs the city £13.7m each year.

A council report stated that there are now 139 premises holding gambling permits in the district, just two fewer than in January 2025.

Fifty-eight of them are betting shops, bingo halls or casinos dedicated to gambling, and a high proportion are in deprived areas.

Fears have previously raised about a city centre street dubbed "bookies' row" because of the four betting shops now located there.

The report, compiled for Bradford Council's corporate scrutiny committee, found that an increasing number of teenagers were being exposed to betting.

It highlighted a decision to refuse a planning application for the fourth betting shop on Broadway - which was later overturned by a government planning inspector after bookmakers Jennings Bet won an appeal.

The inspector's ruling was that given the existing number of gambling establishments already on the street, the introduction of another was "unlikely to have any significant effect on people or the choices they make".

Jennings Bet's opening meant five of the six units on the row are now gambling establishments.

The report said that the role of place-based evidence of risk and harm in planning policy was "limited".

The new campaign will launch in the coming weeks and be aimed at those aged 18-34.

The report said:"It will highlight the psychological and social impact of gambling addiction, educating the public on commercial tactics used by gambling companies and promoting available support resources for those affected by gambling harm."

It cited research from the annual national Young People and Gambling Survey 2025.

This aims to provide an understanding of young people's exposure to, and involvement in, gambling.

It showed a notable rise in gambling participation among 11 to 17-year-olds, with 30% reporting that they had spent their own money on gambling in the past year, up from 27% in 2024.

This increase appears to be driven primarily by a growth in unregulated gambling, which rose from 15 to 18%.

The study also found boys continued to be more likely to gamble than girls.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.