Research

Content tagged with
'Research'

Publications

Qualitative Research on the Lived Experience and Views of Gambling among Children and Young People
Sherbert Research, CultureStudio Research and Family Kids & Youth

This is original research which builds an understanding about the lived experience of gambling harms among different subgroups of children and young people, including an understanding of their perspectives on gambling and how gambling impacts their everyday lives. The groups explored in this research include children under 11, children and young people who are affected others, and children and young people who are at a disproportionate risk of experiencing gambling-related harm.

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LGBTQ+ People and Gambling Harms: A Scoping Review
University of Brighton

This is a review of the latest evidence on the topic of gambling harm within LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+) communities, and considers the prevalence, lived experience, and drivers of gambling harm in LGBTQ+ communities. This is the full report and includes information on methodology, terminology, and a full discussion of findings.

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Audience segmentation
YouGov

This presentation summarises a mixed-methods research project that segments those who gamble into 7 smaller segments, based on individuals wanting to reduce their current level of gambling and/or wanting advice, tools, and support to do so. The report provides an increased understanding of the size, demographics, motivators and barriers of those who want to reduce their gambling.

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Self-help Strategies for Reducing Gambling Harms: Scoping Study
Alma Economics

Alma Economics was commissioned by GambleAware to explore the existing literature about the use of self-help strategies among people who are experiencing gambling related harms. This research acts to increase understanding of what is known about how communities use self-help strategies (including marginalised communities), what the motivators are for using these strategies, and how effective they can be.

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Frameworks and Measurement of Gambling Related Harm: A Scoping Study
National Centre for Social Research and University of Plymouth

This study, funded by GambleAware, is a short scoping study to understand developments in the conceptualisation and measurement of Gambling Related Harms. The goal was to appraise existing frameworks and measurement approaches, and thereby inform future research, prevention and intervention strategies.

The last decade has seen substantial developments in the conceptualisation and measurement of GRH, providing new perspectives that move beyond entrenched and clinically-derived definitions for gambling. A continued move towards public health paradigms will require continued support for the development of underlying tools and expertise.

Importantly, the study emphasises that new modes of gambling related harm measurement are needed. The field should move away from anachronistic measurement tools that conflate harms and behaviours, which are often used to produce often binary and stigmatising “problem gambler” labels onto individuals.

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Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2022
YouGov

The Annual GB treatment and support survey is commissioned each year in order for GambleAware to have an up to date understanding of usage and relative demand for treatment and support for gambling harms across GB.

Just over 18,000 adults were surveyed in November 2022. In this most recent survey in addition to questions around treatment and support and some of the barriers and facilitators to accessing help, we also asked questions on the age participants were first exposed to gambling, the impact the cost of living crisis is having on propensity to gamble and relapse among those who have previously stopped gambling.

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Building Knowledge of Women’s Lived Experience of Gambling and Gambling Harms Across Great Britain
IFF, University of Bristol and GamCare

We wanted to better understand women’s lived experiences of gambling, so we commissioned a consortium of IFF Research, the University of Bristol and GamCare’s Women’s Programme to explore this in detail. The aim of the research is to build knowledge about why women in Britain take part in different types of gambling, how women are affected by another person’s gambling, the effect this has on them and their lives, and their experience of support and treatment services.

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Applying Public Health Learnings to Safer Gambling Communications
Ipsos UK

Ipsos UK were commissioned by GambleAware to undertake a review of evidence to inform what works in safer gambling communications. The aim of this review was to conduct a synthesis of the available evidence to inform the general principles of best practice within existing public health communications and apply them to the area of safer gambling and gambling harm prevention.

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How to create safer online gambling - Bournemouth University 2022

This research, led by Bournemouth University and commissioned by GambleAware, was undertaken to review how safer gambling messages are delivered and to what extent transparency is present when operators provide information to customers.

The paper notes that previous research within the gambling industry has highlighted the use of unfair or misleading promotional techniques, such as ‘free play’ promotions and unclear pay-out rates, as well as the lack of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies.

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Building Knowledge of Women’s Lived Experience of Gambling and Gambling Harms across Great Britain: Phase 2

GambleAware commissioned a consortium of IFF Research, the University of Bristol and GamCare’s Women’s Programme to build knowledge about why women in Britain take part in different types of gambling, the effect this has on them and their lives, and their experience of support and treatment services.

Phase 2 explored the views of women in Great Britain experiencing gambling and gambling harms using a combination of individual depth interviews and a five-day long online community, building on the literature and insights collected as part of Phase 1.

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Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2021

This report presents the findings of a study conducted in November 2021, which explored the usage of, and reported demand for, treatment and support services among gamblers and those affected by another’s gambling. This is an annual study, previously conducted in November 2020 and October 2019. The research was conducted by YouGov on behalf of GambleAware.

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Women’s experiences of gambling and gambling harm: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

The purpose of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to help us understand (1) what is known about the drivers of gambling participation and gambling harms among women and (2) what good might look like in terms of support and treatment for women harmed by their own gambling or someone else’s. The REA was conducted in line with Government Social Research guidelines. We identified and screened 89 items in total, of which 14 were excluded mainly on the grounds that they did not focus on women or gendered differences in experience. The report is therefore based on 75 items, most of which are academic articles published in journals that were subject to peer review. Much of the evidence is based on international research.

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Evidence Review of Remote Treatment Intervention & Support for Gambling Harm

GambleAware commissioned the Responsible Gambling Council to carry out a systematic literature review to provide a critical assessment of the current understanding of the effectiveness of treatment interventions and support for gambling harm.

This unique review considered multiple available mediums of remote interventions and support (excluding helplines). It explores international research to identify areas of consensus and best practice, as well as gaps and opportunities for improvement in intervention and support provision, evaluation and research.

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Remote Interventions: Applying behavioural insights to design better safer gambling tools (Part 2: Commitment devices)

Deposit limit tools — which cap the amount of money customers are able to deposit each day, week or month, to their online gambling account — are offered by all licensed remote gambling companies in Britain. Such tools are aimed at helping customers to limit their spending and control their behaviour.

The trial reported here assessed whether building out the functionality of industry-standard deposit limit tools to include a ‘commitment device’ could impact customers’ use of the tool, and their subsequent behaviour. A commitment device is a voluntary arrangement, designed to dissuade people from breaking their intentions.

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Patterns of Play - Gambling behaviour: What can bank transaction data tell us? A feasibility study (Part 2: Analysis of HSBC UK customer data)

GambleAware’s Patterns of Play programme of research is a wide-ranging endeavour to use behavioural datasets to build a more accurate picture of the varied ways in which people gamble, and the potential impact it has on them. As part of this programme, bank transaction data was identified as offering the potential for richer information about gambling behaviour and new insights into tackling gambling harms. The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) embarked on a project to investigate the feasibility of working with banks, and their data, to those ends.

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Patterns of Play - Gambling behaviour: What can bank transaction data tell us? A feasibility study (Part 1: Analysis of Monzo customer data)

GambleAware’s Patterns of Play programme of research is a wide-ranging endeavour to use behavioural datasets to build a more accurate picture of the varied ways in which people gamble, and the potential impact it has on them. As part of this programme, bank transaction data was identified as offering the potential for richer information about gambling behaviour and new insights into tackling gambling harms. The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) embarked on a project to investigate the feasibility of working with banks, and their data, to those ends.

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Lifting the Lid on Loot-Boxes

This report by the University of Plymouth and University of Wolverhampton explores any links between video game ‘loot boxes’ and problem gambling, as well as identifying any particular demographics more likely to engage with these features.

As part of GambleAware's research grant to the University of Plymouth and University of Wolverhampton to investigate gambling, gaming, and loot-boxes, researchers produced an article, 'Loot boxes, problem gambling and problem video gaming: A systematic review and meta-synthesis', which was published in the academic journal, New Media and Society.

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Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey 2020

The annual GB Treatment and Support survey uses data collected by YouGov and explores the usage of treatment and support services among gamblers, and those affected by another’s gambling. The report follows GambleAware’s first annual study of this kind, conducted in 2019.

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An Integrated Approach To Safer Gambling

After working with five operators (Betfred (both retail and digital), Genting Casino, Buzz Bingo, Gamesys (Jackpotjoy brand) and 888 (Casino brand)) between autumn 2019 and summer 2020, Revealing Reality were able to identify that with the right tools and support in place, going forward, operators could make significant progress when developing successful safer gambling messages. By adopting this integrated approach, operators would be taking a preventative, rather than reactive, approach to safer gambling messaging and would therefore be able to frame safer gambling as the default way to play for all customers.

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Bet Regret Synthesis Report

A Synthesis Report on the Bet Regret Safer Gambling Campaign, outlining how research was used to inform the development of the various stages of the campaign and ensure an evidence-based approach was applied throughout.

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Bet Regret Narrative Report

This report provides an overview of the key steps in the development and implementation of the Bet Regret campaign. The report was published on behalf of the Safer Gambling Campaign Board.

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Disproportionate burdens of gambling harms among minority communities: A review of the literature

Minority communities bear disproportionate burdens of harms associated with gambling in Great Britain. However, the literature to date indicates a lack of information about why these communities experience higher levels of gambling harm. This scoping review therefore seeks to identify the drivers for why minority communities experience more prevalent gambling harms. These include experiences of racism, discrimination, trauma, as well as cultural and linguistic barriers, and where communities live.

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Annual Statistics from the National Gambling Treatment Service (Great Britain) 2019/2020

The National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS) is a network of organisations working together to provide confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms and is free to access across England, Scotland and Wales. The NGTS is commissioned by GambleAware, an independent grant-making charity that takes a public health approach to reducing gambling harms. The data for the 2019/20 period is presented within this report.

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Cover of "Annual Statistics from the National Gambling Treatment Service (Great Britain) 2018/2019"
Annual Statistics from the National Gambling Treatment Service (Great Britain) 2018/2019
GambleAware
Treatment and support

The National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS) is a network of organisations working together to provide confidential treatment and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms and is free to access across England, Scotland and Wales. The NGTS is commissioned by GambleAware, an independent grant-making charity, that takes a public health approach to reducing gambling harms. The data for the 2018/19 period is presented within this report.

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Women in Focus: a secondary data analysis of the Gambling Treatment and Support study

This report presents the findings of a study to explore the usage of, and demand for, treatment and support services among gamblers and those affected by another’s gambling. The report focuses specifically on women. In addition to describing their usage of and demand for treatment and support, the report presents detailed demographic and behavioural profiles of gamblers and those affected by another’s gambling.

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Cover of "Examining the frequency and nature of gambling marketing in televised broadcasts of professional sporting events in the United Kingdom"
Examining the frequency and nature of gambling marketing in televised broadcasts of professional sporting events in the United Kingdom
R.I. Purves, N. Critchlow, A. Morgan, M. Stead & F. Dobbie
Children and young people
Advertising, marketing and communications

Gambling operators in the United Kingdom have introduced a voluntary ban on adverts broadcast during televised sport before 21:00 (the ‘whistle-to-whistle’ ban). To inform debates around the potential effectiveness of this ban, we examine the frequency and nature of gambling marketing in televised broadcasts across professional sporting events.

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Exploring "what works" in creating infrastructures and engagement methods for people with lived experience within public health, health and social care, and addiction research

This report summarises the evidence on ‘what works’ in involving people with lived experience within public health, health and social care, and addictions services. It is a rapid scoping review of UK research to establish the current evidence base about' what works’ in relation to building infrastructures and engagement channels that draw on the knowledge of people with lived experience to meaningfully contribute to the wider debate about gambling and gambling related harm and to influence wider policy.

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First slide of "Briefing Presentation - Treatment Needs and Gap Analysis in Great Britain – A Synthesis of Findings"
Briefing Presentation - Treatment Needs and Gap Analysis in Great Britain – A Synthesis of Findings
S. Dinos
Treatment and support

Presentation on the synthesis of findings from a programme of studies which aimed to:
- Review the current need, demand and use of gambling treatment and support in England, Scotland and Wales
- Identify where there are geographic and demographic gaps in provision
- Detail the demand for treatment and support by gamblers and affected others in Britain

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Cover of "Treatment Needs and Gap Analysis in Great Britain – A Synthesis of Findings"
Treatment Needs and Gap Analysis in Great Britain – A Synthesis of Findings
S. Dinos
Treatment and support

In 2018, GambleAware commissioned a programme of studies to review the current need, demand and use of gambling treatment and support in England, Scotland and Wales, to identify where there are geographic and demographic gaps in provision; and, to detail the demand for treatment and support by gamblers and affected others in Britain.
Whilst previous research provides data on problem gamblers (and those experiencing lower levels of gambling harm) within the general population, there is little (if any) research on the size and characteristics of those seeking or accessing treatment and support for gambling harms. The primary aim of this report is to synthesise findings across all strands of this programme.

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Cover of "The effect of marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable people: Quantitative Research Report"
The effect of marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable people: Quantitative Research Report
A. Macgregor, C. Elliot & J. Shields
Children and young people
Advertising, marketing and communications

In February 2019, GambleAware commissioned ScotCen to conduct a survey of 11-24-year olds in England, Scotland and Wales. Although an online survey of those aged 11-24 had been part of the original commissioning process, delays in accessing the sample and issues encountered in the pilot resulted in a number of modifications, the major ones being:
• The survey changed mode from online only to a sequential postal-online-computer
assisted telephone interview (CATI) model
• Incentives were to be offered on completion of the survey.
This report explores awareness of, and participation with, gambling marketing and its association with gambling-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour among those aged 11-24 years.

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Cover of "The effect of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults"
The effect of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults
Ipsos MORI
Children and young people
Advertising, marketing and communications

In March 2018, GambleAware commissioned two independent consortia to assess the extent, nature and impact of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable groups in the UK. The first consortium was led by Ipsos MORI (in partnership with University of Bristol, University of Edinburgh, Ebiquity and the Centre for Analysis of Social Media at Demos), and the second by the University of Stirling (in partnership with ScotCen Social Research, University of Glasgow, and University of Warwick). Each consortium looked at the broad spectrum of gambling marketing and advertising, using different research methods. Separate consortium reports have been prepared to give more detail on the work each consortia led and methods used.
Ipsos MORI have written this final synthesis report to explore the effect of gambling advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults. It draws on data from all nine strands of research carried out as part of this study.

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Cover of "Effective Treatment and Support for Problem Gambling - Rapid Evidence Assessment"
Effective Treatment and Support for Problem Gambling - Rapid Evidence Assessment
L. Kalbfleisch, D. Baxter, S. McKnight, T. Sztainert & M. Sohail
Treatment and support

A rapid evidence review was commissioned to provide an updated evidence base on treatment and support for problem gambling in order to inform future growth, improvement, and evaluation of problem gambling treatment services across Great Britain. The report covers ten key treatment topics including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Motivational Interventions; Remote and Self-Help Interventions; Helplines; Treatment Involving Concerned Significant Others; Residential Treatment; Pharmacological Treatments; Brain Stimulation; Gamblers Anonymous; Emerging Treatment Modalities.

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Cover of "An assessment of the accuracy of survey estimates of the prevalence of problem gambling in the UK''
An assessment of the accuracy of survey estimates of the prevalence of problem gambling in the UK
P. Sturgis
Treatment and support

The 2016 combined health surveys find 4.2% of the adult population experience gambling harm compared with 13.2% in the 2019 YouGov survey. This is a substantial discrepancy that cannot be explained by sampling variability. This report provides a description of the range of errors that may be present in the different survey estimates and assesses which of the two surveys is likely to be most affected by these errors and in which ways.

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Cover of "Gambling Treatment and Support"
Gambling Treatment and Support
B. Gunstone & K. Gosschalk
Treatment and support

This report presents the findings of a study to explore the usage of, and demand for, treatment and support services among gamblers and those affected by another’s gambling. This involved identifying problem gamblers in the sample, using a validated measure of problem gambling, that have and have not
engaged in any form of treatment, as well as for affected others. A further objective was to extrapolate the findings to a detailed local level.

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Cover of "Skins in the Game"
Skins in the Game
Royal Society for Public Health
Children and young people

Based on a survey* of young people across the UK aged between 11 and 24, Skins in the Game identifies that a majority of young people see both purchasing a loot box (58%) and taking part in skin betting (60%) as forms of highly addictive gambling. In order to protect the health and well-being of young people, RSPH is calling upon the new Government to update the legislation currently in place around the issue of gaming and gambling, ensuring that both loot boxes and skin betting are fully legally defined and recognised as forms of gambling.

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Executive Summary - A longitudinal study of gambling in late adolescence and early adulthood: the ALSPAC Gambling Study

This executive summary describes a longitudinal study of young peoples’ gambling between 17 and 24 years, using a contemporary UK cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), known as Children of the Nineties. The aims of the ALSPAC Gambling Study were to describe gambling behaviour in young people aged 17-24 years, investigate the antecedents of regular and problem gambling, and explore the associations with other addictive behaviours and mental health.

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A longitudinal study of gambling in late adolescence and early adulthood: Follow-up assessment at 24 years

This report describes a longitudinal study of young peoples’ gambling between 17 and 24 years, using a contemporary UK cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), known as Children of the Nineties. The aims of the ALSPAC Gambling Study were to describe gambling behaviour in young people aged 17-24 years, investigate the antecedents of regular and problem gambling, and explore the associations with other addictive behaviours and mental health.

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Cover of "A Needs Assessment for Treatment and Support"
A Needs Assessment for Treatment and Support
J. Kerr, S. Lynch-Higgins, B. Thompson, S. Dinos, P. Khambhaita & K. Windle
Treatment and support

The study had a number of objectives related to unmet need and barriers to accessing treatment as experienced and/or perceived by problem gamblers and stakeholders. This workstream also drew on findings from the Rapid Evidence Review. In particular, part of the aims of this analysis were formed to address and extend key themes and gaps identified in the REA in relation to pathways to care, unmet need, as well as any barriers and facilitators to accessing treatment and support for individuals experiencing gambling harms who do not access treatment/support services. The key research objectives focused on identifying:
• The type of unmet need and demand for services;
• Barriers to accessing treatment and support; and
• Differences in barriers between groups.

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Secondary Data Analysis of the Data Reporting Framework and the Health Survey for England

This study is part of a larger programme of studies in collaboration between NatCen and ACT Recovery. This research will help enable better targeting of support to bring people who need it forward for treatment, identify current capacity issues, and support the strategic development of future treatment services to ultimately help reduce gambling-related harm. This report covers the second part of the project, Work Stream 2; secondary analysis comparing gamblers in the general population with those in treatment. The analysis used combined survey data from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey and treatment data from the Data Reporting Framework.

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Gambling Treatment Services Needs Assessment Report

As part of a broader programme around gaps and needs for adults at risk, or currently experiencing, gambling related harm, ACT Recovery was commissioned to examine at risk and in treatment populations to address:
1. What are individual needs (users and affected others), and how well are they met?
2. How well do services measure, monitor, and meet the needs of those seeking help?
3. How consistently and effectively are gambling treatment needs met across the system of provision in Great Britain?
The aim was to collect primary data (mainly from treatment services and other stakeholders) and to supplement this with two secondary data trawls – a literature review and an analysis of two years of data from GambleAware’s treatment monitoring system, the Data Recording Framework (DRF).

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Scoping Current Evidence and Evidence-Gaps in Research on Gambling-Related Suicide.

GambleAware commissioned a project on ‘Gambling-related suicide’ comprising three parts: prevalence of gambling associated suicidal behaviours using the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 20071; a study of gambling, suicidal behaviours and loneliness using the APMS 20072; and a scoping workshop with stakeholders to better understand evidence and knowledge gaps regarding gambling and suicide. This is the third report of the project, incorporating discussions from the scoping workshop held in London on March 8th 2019.

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Interim Synthesis Report Executive Summary - The effect of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults

Executive Summary: Ipsos MORI have written this interim synthesis report, which explores exposure, tone and format of gambling related marketing and advertising. It draws on data from all strands minus the survey of children and young people and collection of ‘click through data’ (strands 7 and 10). The results from these strands will be available in due course and will form part of the final, full synthesis report which will report on the impact of gambling advertising.

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Cover of "Exploring problem gambling, loneliness and lifetime suicidal behaviours: a cross-sectional study using the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007"
Exploring problem gambling, loneliness and lifetime suicidal behaviours: a cross-sectional study using the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007
A. John, S.C. Lee, H. Wardle, S. McManus & S. Dymond
Gambling harms

Loneliness, defined as the subjective perception of a lack of contact with other people, is associated with premature mortality, mental ill-health, and increased use of health services. We aimed to explore the extent to which loneliness may be associated with gambling and suicidal thoughts, non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH), self-harm and suicide attempts.

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Cover of "Problem gambling and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm in England: evidence from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007"
Problem gambling and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm in England: evidence from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007
H. Wardle, S.Dymond, A. John & S.McManus
Gambling harms

Concern has been raised about a possible relationship between problem gambling and suicidality, but relatively few studies have examined this. To strengthen the evidence base, Gamble Aware commissioned a project with two objectives. Firstly, to establish whether problem gambling and suicidality are associated. And secondly, to review what data exist or could be collected in order to investigate any association in more depth. This report addresses the project’s first objective. A subsequent report will address the second objective.

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Cover of "The Effect of Gambling Marketing and Advertising on Children, Young People and Vulnerable People: Qualitative Research Report"
The Effect of Gambling Marketing and Advertising on Children, Young People and Vulnerable People: Qualitative Research Report
A. Macgregor, H. Biggs & J. Shields
Children and young people
Advertising, marketing and communications

In March 2018, GambleAware commissioned a series of studies to assess the extent, nature and impact of gambling marketing on children, young people and vulnerable groups in the UK. Overall, the series of studies used a variety of methods to examine the extent of current gambling marketing in the UK across different media including social media, the nature and content of gambling marketing in different media, and how children, young people and vulnerable groups respond to gambling marketing. This report presents findings from the qualitative research conducted as part of this series of studies by ScotCen Social Research.

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Cover of "Measuring gambling-related harms among children and young people A framework for action"
Measuring gambling-related harms among children and young people A framework for action
M. Blake, J. Pye, C. Mollidor, L. Morris, H. Wardle & G. Reith
Children and young people
Gambling harms

This report presents a definition and framework for gambling-related harm among children and young people based on:
• an expert workshop of professionals and researchers working with young people and working in the field of gambling;
• four focus groups in schools with young people aged 13-18.

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Cover of "Report 1: presenting findings from desk based research (literature review; content analysis of gambling advertising and a frequency analysis of sports sponsorship)"
Report 1: presenting findings from desk based research (literature review; content analysis of gambling advertising and a frequency analysis of sports sponsorship)
N. Critchlow, M. Stead, C. Moodie, R. Purves, K. Angus, A. Morgan, F. Dobbie, P. Newall & G. Reith
Children and young people
Advertising, marketing and communications

The research produced by the ISM and collaborators part of the consortia are divided into two reports. This first report focuses on the nature and content of gambling marketing and advertising in the UK and how it may reach and influence children, young people, and vulnerable groups. Findings are presented from three work packages: a literature review, a content analysis of gambling advertising in paid for media, and an analysis of gambling references broadcasts of professional sport in the UK. The second report (due Autumn 2019) will explore awareness of, and participation with, gambling marketing and what association (if any) this has with gambling-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour.

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Cover of "Can behavioural insights be used to reduce risky play in online environments?"
Can behavioural insights be used to reduce risky play in online environments?
Behavioural Insights Team
Gambling behaviour and industry

The rise of online gambling sites means that placing a bet is only a few keystrokes away. For those that are negatively affected by gambling, increased accessibility poses a risk of financial, social or health-related harm. As such, the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) was commissioned by GambleAware to conduct the third phase of its remote gambling research programme, which aims to support operators in reducing reduce problem gambling.

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Families Living with Problem Gambling: Impacts, Coping Strategies and Help-Seeking

The principal aim of this research study was to give voice to family members, friends and other loved ones of problem gamblers, in order to document their lived experience. We explored the impact of problem gambling on families, how family members cope with a loved one's gambling problem, and their
help seeking behaviour, with a view to shaping best practice relating to the education, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm, and to inform further research in this area.

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Gambling: the young BAME perspective

This research was commissioned so that GambleAware can gain deeper insights into the perceptions of gambling, in order to improve how information and resources for prevention, education and treatment are provided to those in these communities.

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Gambling in Families: A study on the role and influence of family and parental attitudes and behaviours on gambling-related harm in young people

In November 2016, GambleAware appointed Ecorys (UK) to undertake a qualitative research study as part of the research programme: Young People, Gambling, and Gambling-Related Harm Research. The specific focus of the study was to understand the role and influence of parental and familial factors on gambling and gambling related harm in young people.
The study had four main objectives:
1. To understand the types and frequency of gambling behaviours among young people and their families, and how these relate to other forms of risk taking behaviour.
2. To investigate the influence of family and parental attitudes and behaviour as a factor associated with increased risk of gambling related harm in young people.
3. To investigate the role of family attitudes and behaviours as a protective factor associated with preventing gambling related harm in young people.
4. To identify key policy and practice messages.

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Measuring gambling-related harms: A Framework for action

This report is the output of an expert group assembled to a) agree a definition of gambling-related harms to be used in British policy and practice, b) consider how gambling-related harms may be better understood, measured and monitored and c) to explore whether it is possible to attach some estimate of the social cost of gambling-related harms and make recommendations about how that may be done.

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Analysis of play among British online gamblers on slots and other casino-style games

In the last few years, operators of land venues, in particular in the bookmaker and casino sectors, have provided data for research commissioned by GambleAware which has enabled analysis of patterns of play on gaming machines. For example, this has brought into the public domain basic information, hitherto unknown, on the proportions of gaming sessions ending in large losses or of long duration. However, the patterns of play in these traditional environments may not be replicated in the online environment where a large (more than 30%) and increasing proportion of gaming by British consumers takes place. As a first step towards filling this gap in knowledge, thirteen operators have provided one month of data to the Gambling Commission to allow analysis of patterns of play on products, slots and non-slots (casino games excluding poker), comparable to those offered in the land-based sectors.
This Report to GambleAware presents descriptive analysis of the data provided to the Gambling Commission and comments on what further data might usefully be obtained from operators to enable further progress on Priority Action 4 of the National Responsible Gambling Strategy.

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Gambling and homelessness: Developing instruments for practitioners

The primary aims of this research were to further our understanding of the relationship between gambling and homelessness, and to develop three instruments; an information sheet to assist homeless practitioners in understanding and identifying gambling problems, a screening tool to assist in screening for gambling problems, and a resource sheet to provide information to those who are identified as being at least at risk of gambling problems.

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Getting grounded in problematic play: using digital grounded theory to understand problem gambling and harm minimisation opportunities in remote gambling

This project was commissioned by GambleAware as part of its programme of research designed to improve understanding in relation to risky behaviour in remote gambling environments and to examine how such risks and associated harms can be mitigated. The study was designed to explore patterns of problem gambling in the remote gambling sector and to provide new ideas and theoretical foundations for strategies to mitigate risks and harms.

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Remote Gambling Research: Interim Report on Phase 2

Gamble Aware has commissioned a programme of research aiming to explore the potential usefulness of industry-held data and behavioural analytics in the remote gambling sector, primarily to indicate markers of harmful or risky behaviour and then to recommend practical applications of harm minimisation. Importantly, there is an emphasis on how harmful and risky behaviour can be mitigated, not just if it can be identified and mitigated.

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Cover of "Tipping point: When public opinion triggers changes to policy"
Tipping point: When public opinion triggers changes to policy
A. Blaszczynski & S. Gainsbury
Advertising, marketing and communications

GambleAware has requested a brief paper outlining evidence for gambling and gambling-related activity (such as various forms of advertising) being subject to a ‘tipping point’ when public opinion causes policy makers to introduce, modify, or ban gambling-related regulation and/or gambling-related activity (such as various forms of advertising). This paper will explore the processes that may be instrumental in fostering policy makers to introduce or modify gambling-related regulations in response to public pressure for reform. The intent is not to review the validity of claims made by the public, academics, lobbyists, or advocacy groups but rather to describe factors that trigger regulatory changes in response to demands for action.

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Skins betting & Blockchains: A brief overview

In response to a request by the Research Committee, GambleAware has asked IROP to produce a brief paper on Skins betting & Blockchain. The purpose of the report is to provide an overview of the concept of Skins betting & Blockchain to inform the Committee as the nature, function and possible implications for gambling associated with these emergent forms of gambling.

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Consideration of the impact of immediate calls to action within gambling advertising

Calls to action are a highly persuasive component of advertising. Calls to action within gambling advertisements are likely to have the greatest impact on consumers who are predisposed to gambling, have accounts with an operator, and have difficulty controlling their gambling. The harm potentially related to calls to action for betting is proportional to the immediacy upon which these can be engaged with.

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A study on cognitive biases in gambling: Hot hand and gamblers' fallacy

People who appear to believe in the hot hand expect winning streaks to continue whereas those suffering from the gamblers’ fallacy unreasonably expect losing streaks to reverse. 565,915 sports bets made by 776 online gamblers in 2010 were used for analysis. People who won were more likely to win again whereas those who lost were more likely to lose again. However, selection of safer odds after winning and riskier ones after losing indicates that online sports gamblers expected their luck to reverse: they suffered from the gamblers’ fallacy. By following in the gamblers’ fallacy, they created their own hot hands. Some gamblers consistently outperformed their peers. They also consistently made higher profits or lower losses. They show real expertise. The key of real expertise is the ability to control loss.

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FOB-Ts in British betting shops: Further analysis of machine data to examine the impact of the £50 Regulations

The brief was to evaluate the impact of the introduction of the £50 Regulations, which were introduced in April, 2015, and which changed the conditions of use of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOB-Ts) (gaming machines provided in British bookmaker shops). Analysis was to be based on data provided by the machine manufacturers. Particular attention was to be paid to identifying any changes in how players used the machines that might be indicative of either mitigation or aggravation of gambling-related harm.

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Follow-up study of loyalty card customers: Changes in gambling behaviour over time

This study is a follow-up to the 2014 study of holders of bookmakers loyalty cards, commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust (now GambleAware), as part of a programme of research looking at users of machines in bookmakers. The original survey is called the baseline study hereafter. This report summarises headline findings on changes in behaviour over time, changes in problem gambling status, and the characteristics of machine users who are most at risk of becoming problem gamblers.

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Key issues in product based harm-minimisation

The aim of this report is to review evidence and theory regarding the gambling product through its structural characteristics (i.e., the ‘agent’ component of the epidemiological triangle). By providing a better understanding of structural characteristics, stakeholders should be better equipped to promote and evaluate responsible gambling and harm-minimisation strategies.

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Secondary Analysis of Machines Data

A consortium of NatCen Social Research, Featurespace, Geofutures and RTI International conducted the Responsible Gambling Trust’s (RGT) Machines Research Programme in 2014. This report explored: whether data could be used to develop algorithms to predict behaviour; the demographics of B2/B3 players; descriptive data about the £100 stake; and whether gambling behaviour differs when gambling winnings or loading new money.

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Cards on the table: The cost to government of problem gambling in Great Britain

This report aims to highlight the extent of problem gambling in Great Britain, to build a picture of the range of comorbid social, health and financial problems that can occur alongside problem gambling, and to provide a first step on the road towards understanding the impact that problem gambling has on the public finances. In doing so, we hope that the effects of problem gambling can go on to be better understood across government and society, making it a hidden addiction no longer.

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Tracked play on B1 gaming machines in British casinos

This Report is linked to the suite of research, commissioned by The Responsible Gambling Trust, which examines issues related to the use of gaming machines in Great Britain. The Trust’s focus on gaming machines was motivated by long-standing concerns among that gaming machines may carry greater potential for harm than many other gambling activities.

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Children and young people's gambling: Research review

This review summarises international evidence about children and young people’s participation in different types of gambling activities, their motivations to gamble, and the effects this gambling
may have on them. In adopting an international perspective this review focuses on specific comparable international jurisdictions, namely: North America, Australia, New Zealand and the
Nordic countries. This is because there is less available evidence about approaches to problem gambling from other cultural contexts, and because these identified international contexts are
those most culturally similar to the UK (Abbot et al. 2004).

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Remote Gambling Research - Interim report on Phase 1

This work has been commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT) and is being led by PwC who are working alongside the Responsible Gambling Council of Canada (RGC). In addition this work is being made possible by the cooperation of the UK's leading remote gambling operators. The purpose of this document is to introduce the project, summarise Phase 1 and to introduce our approach to Phases 2 and 3 which we intend to complete in 2016.

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People who play machines in bookmakers: secondary analysis of loyalty card survey data

In 2014, a survey of 4001 people who gambled on machines in bookmakers (called B2 machines hereafter) and who held a loyalty card for William Hill, Ladbrokes or Paddy Power was conducted by NatCen Social Research. This survey collected information about gambling behaviour, including problem gambling, and linked survey responses with data held by bookmakers about each person’s gambling behaviour on B2 machines between September 2013 and June 2014. The objective of this study was to conduct further analysis of the data.

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A longitudinal study mapping changes in explicit and implicit measures of gambling behaviour

The focus of this research is on what gamblers say about their behaviour during interview, implicit measures of that behaviour, and how traditional self-report questionnaires capture responses at the same time. The research explores what the relationships are between these methods, and if they change over time. It is anticipated that there will be significant relationships between elements of each of these methods that will add to the understanding and identification of problem gambling. It is expected that over time, as gamblers change their behaviours, these changes will be observed across the different methods of enquiry and relationships between different methods will be revealed.

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Gambling and social media

This paper presents the results of research by Demos to understand the relationship between gambling and social media within the UK. A short scoping study, the research aims to understand the scale and nature of conversations related to gambling that now happen across a number of different spaces within the digital world, the extent to which they can be researched, and overall to scope the potential for future research opportunities in this area.

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Children and Gambling: Attitudes, Behaviour, Harm Prevention and Regulatory Responses

This thesis demonstrates that the legal definition of prohibited gambling does not incorporate all activities that may lead to gambling-related harm. While the age verification measures adopted by online gambling providers appear to be successful, young people continue to have easy access to gambling in land-based venues and are exposed to significant volumes of gambling advertising that appeals to them but these factors are not sufficiently compensated by any holistic regulatory strategy.

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Patterns of play: analysis of data from machines in bookmakers

This report describes for the first time, transactional information collected by gambling machines in bookmakers, in Great Britain. Category B machines have become a key area of interest in recent years among both policy makers and the media, particularly B2 machines found in bookmakers. These machines allow gamblers to stake up to £100 at each bet. Each bet, or transaction, is recorded by the machine along with its outcome. These transactional data – how much money gamblers put into the machines and how much is paid out – have not been examined before. This report will help policy makers better understand how, when and where these machines are used.

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Operator-based Approaches to Harm Minimisation in Gambling

In this report we give critical consideration to the nature and effectiveness of harm minimisation in gambling. We identify gambling-related harm as both personal (e.g., health, wellbeing, relationships) and economic (e.g., financial) harm that occurs from exceeding one’s disposable income or disposable leisure time. We have elected to use the term ‘harm minimisation’ as the most appropriate term for reducing the impact of problem gambling, given its breadth in regard to the range of goals it seeks to achieve, and the range of means by which they may be achieved.

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Key issues in product based harm-minimisation

The purpose of this report was to examine the academic literature regarding self-exclusion as a form of harm minimisation in gambling and consider views from two key stakeholders: namely gambling operators and treatment providers in Great Britain.

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Routes in and out of problem internet gambling by gender and by gambling activity: A mixed-method study based on personal accounts of internet gamblers

In the last two decades, Internet gambling (IG) has emerged as a medium in which to gamble. This research aimed to increase understanding of IG by examining routes in and out of problem IG, and also investigating similarities and differences between men and women, players of different IG activities (betting, poker, casino, lottery), and problem and non-problem gamblers.

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The role of stake size in loss of control in within-session gambling

This research forms part of a series of research projects commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust to consider two questions set out by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB). These two questions were: a) Can we distinguish between harmful and non-harmful gaming machine play? b) If we can, what measures might limit harmful play without impacting on those who do not exhibit harmful behaviours?

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The relationship between the regulatory environment governing commercial gambling and the shape of the market in the supply and game parameters of gaming machines

This paper has three main purposes: 1, to set the controls over the supply and the game parameters of gaming machines within the broader regulatory environment governing commercial gambling in Great Britain; 2, to indicate how these controls have shaped the gaming machine market and the debate around the ways in which the government could realise its policy of striking a balance between the interests of both operators and players, and; 3, to provide a critical account of the regulatory regime governing the availability of gaming machines as the background against which the Responsible Gambling Trust's other commissioned contextual papers may be read.

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Problem and pathological gambling: a conceptual review

This report provides a conceptual summary and critique of problem and pathological gambling and how these terms are used in policy, research and
clinical practice. It summarises the varying disciplinary approaches to understanding gambling-related disorders; the distinction drawn between
harm and behavioural indicators; issues in measurement; and, the significance of longitudinal evidence relating to the stability of gambling-related problems

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Consumer behaviour in relation to gaming machines: Introduction

An introduction to the special edition of the Journal of Gambling Business and Economics which comprises five papers with the shared purpose of providing a concise and accessible understanding about some of the key questions and issues that arise in the public discourse around commercial gambling generally, and gaming machine behaviour particularly.

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Examining machine player behaviour: a qualitative exploration

Commissioned by the Responsible Gambling Trust, this study examined the relationship between gambling machines characteristics and consumer behaviour.
The main objective of the research was to explore how players interact with a range of machine features during ‘real time’ play at selected gambling venues.

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Barriers to treatment access for young problem gamblers

The research aims were to generate empirical evidence to identify and explain barriers to treatment access for young problem gamblers in the UK. The main objectives were to i) Explore the attitudes and perceptions that young people hold towards problem gambling; ii) Investigate the potential barriers which may prevent young people from seeking treatment; and iii) To understand the salience of the identified barriers to treatment access amongst young problem gamblers.

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The psychosocial impact of online problem gambling

The overall aims of this thesis were to establish (i) what makes internet gambling potentially addictive, (ii) how is internet gambling located, accessed, and utilised by players, and (iii) what the salient structural and situational characteristics of internet gambling are and how these impacted (psychologically and socially) on peoples‘ lives.

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Learning under uncertainty: A model-based approach for understanding gambling behaviour

Gamblers in the real world have been found to successfully navigate complex multivariate problems such as those of poker and the racetrack but also to misunderstand elementary problems such as those of roulette and dice. An account of gambling behaviour must accommodate both the strengths and weaknesses of decision making and yet neither of the dominating decision making traditions of heuristics and biases or Bayesian rational inference does. This thesis presents evidence supporting a model-based approach for studying gambling behaviour.

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Projects

Building Knowledge of Minority Communities’ Lived Experience of Gambling and Gambling Harms across Great Britain
Inequalities and vulnerable communities
Gambling harms
Lived experience
Affected others

GambleAware has awarded a £300,000 grant to build knowledge about the lived experience of minority communities in relation to gambling to inform delivery of our Organisation and Commissioning Strategy over the next five years. ‘Minority communities’ includes minority ethnic, minority religion, and minority language communities.

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Building knowledge of stigma related to gambling and gambling harms in Great Britain
Gambling harms
Lived experience
Inequalities and vulnerable communities

GambleAware has commissioned a scoping paper that will establish what is known about stigma related to gambling and gambling harms. Knowledge about stigma, and the discrimination it drives, will inform all GambleAware’s commissioning activity to prevent gambling harms, including public awareness campaigns, education, treatment, and research.

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Building Knowledge of Women’s Lived Experience of Gambling and Gambling Harms across Great Britain
Gambling harms
Gambling behaviour and industry
Lived experience
Inequalities and vulnerable communities

GambleAware has awarded a £250,000 grant to build knowledge about the drivers of gambling participation and of gambling harms experienced by women, and to understand the differences among sub-groups of women. The knowledge accrued from this research will be used to inform GambleAware’s commissioning practices.

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Online gambling data: initial analysis
Gambling behaviour and industry

This ambitious research project examining online gambling behaviour aims to better understand how gamblers’ patterns of play vary across different environments and activities. Player level data will be gathered from many of the largest online gambling firms and collated into one unified dataset, so that ‘big data’ analysis can be undertaken to identify indicators of potentially harmful behaviour.

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The impact of message framing on problem recognition amongst problem and at-risk gamblers
Gambling behaviour and industry

This piece of research will explore the impact of the phrasing and positioning of messages designed to encourage safer gambling, in order to support the development of future public health campaigns in this area.

This project aims to address important questions related to the way in which “safe” or “responsible” gambling is promoted, with a particular focus on the way that “problem gambling” is framed, as well as the way in which gambling or betting identities are made central to a campaign.

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The Future of Gambling
Gambling behaviour and industry

This project focusses on online computer gaming. It builds knowledge and understanding of the harms which may exist within chance-based elements within gaming. It focuses on ‘loot boxes’ in computer games that people pay to access, with the contents of the box (virtual game upgrades) dictated by chance.

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Safer Gambling App – EROGamb 2.0
Gambling behaviour and industry

This project will gather information related to gambling norms, and individuals’ gambling patterns. It will use that information to see whether it can empower people who gamble with a contextual and accurate understanding of their gambling, whilst increasing their control over their gambling patterns.

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Lived Experience Programme 2021/22
Lived experience

It is well demonstrated that the meaningful involvement of those with lived experience is crucial at all levels of service delivery, policy and legislation formation, research, and civil society discussion and debate.

GambleAware is keen to ensure that the early intervention and treatment services commissioned are what people want and need, and are effective in preventing and reducing gambling harms; ensuring the voice of people with lived experience is heard is key to that.

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PhD Study: Development of harm reduction interventions for bespoke risk environments in the changing landscape of gambling and gaming
Treatment and support

The research aims to investigate the gambling-related harms associated with advertising and specific product features to inform the development of corresponding harm-reduction strategies.

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CONGAM: Adding Contingency Management to Psychosocial Interventions for Disordered Gambling
Treatment and support

This research will undertake a scoping and feasibility assessment of adding Contingency Management to existing psychological treatments for disordered gambling in the UK clinical gambling treatment settings.

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Case studies

Ben's story

"No one ever talks about losses. So, it's really hard to even know if someone's got a problem or not, because if you haven’t won for a while – you just won’t say anything...Hearing other people’s stories that are similar to mine kind of makes you think ‘Wait a minute’… you realise you’re not a million miles away from it."

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Mina's story

"I try and set myself limits to keep it under control. You can sit there and say you’re in control – but sometimes you’re not. Having a spend calculator is really helpful….it visually shows how much you’re spending. You can’t ignore it."

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Adam's story

"I never thought I had a problem. I didn't want to be seen like a gambler and addict. But they're all the things that I was...I think now knowing that I can pick up the phone to someone, or I could reach out to someone and get help straight away…it might have been easier."

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Danni's story

"At first I wouldn’t say anything because actually... it's not really my place to say, it's not my money. Then I thought I could help him, but I realise now that's not the case and I should have looked after myself first… I still sometimes have to remember to do that."

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Joanne's story

"I never talked about anything. I wish I had, just saying stuff out loud makes such a difference… I went to group meetings and the more I spoke about my story, the more open I was. And the more I was getting asked questions and getting more involved. It was that that helped me in my recovery."

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