UK Gambling Commission study of harmful gambling published

On Tuesday the UK Gambling Commission announced the publication of a “ground breaking” approach to understanding the full range of harms gambling can have on society.

The study was was led by Dr Heather Wardle, on behalf of the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) – which provides independent advice to the Gambling Commission. The report is the result of close collaboration between the Gambling Commission, GambleAware as funding body, and RGSB, and it calls for views on how the social cost of gambling-related harms can be measured and better understood.

Mapping out for the first time methodology that could be used to quantify the impact gambling can have on relationships, finances and health, the report seeks to:

* Agree a definition of gambling-related harms that can be used by policy makers and public health officials.

*Explore how the social and economic impact of gambling-related harms can be better understood, measured and monitored.

* Set a framework for action that considers how the impact of harms can be felt by individuals, families and communities.

* Identify the most effective way to estimate the social cost of gambling-related harms.

Gambling Commission CEO, Neil McArthur said in a Commission statement:

“While the majority of consumers can enjoy gambling without experiencing harm, we cannot forget the devastating effects it can have on some individuals, families and communities. This report shows significant progress in understanding those effects and measuring the impacts on wider society and the economy as a whole.

“We do not see this as a definitive position – it’s very much a work in progress. We encourage public health officials, academics, the industry and the public to feed back on the report and work with us to set a framework that can help prevent harm to consumers.”

Project leader Dr Heather Wardle added: “This report is a dramatic step forward in our understanding of gambling. It represents a sea change in thinking about gambling as it recognises that gambling isn’t something that affects just a few individuals but extends far beyond them to affect their families, communities and society”.

Marc Etches, chief executive at GambleAware observed: “Problem gambling is a public health issue that can have serious economic and social consequences not only for individual gamblers but also family, friends, communities and society. This is why this project, led by Dr Heather Wardle of RGSB and funded by GambleAware, is so important. We need urgently to improve our understanding of what gambling, and its wide-reaching knock-on effects, is costing us.”

View the report here

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