First global gambling review highlights substantial lack of commitment to addressing gambling harms
Published: 10 November 2023
Commentary
On a global scale, governments are falling short in adequately tackling the health and wellbeing consequences of gambling, as revealed by a pioneering review conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow
A pioneering review led by the University of Glasgow has revealed that governments globally are failing to adequately address the health and wellbeing harms stemming from gambling.
The study, titled 'Public health approaches to gambling: A global review of legislative trends,' highlights an increasing recognition of gambling-related harms in legislation worldwide. However, there seems to be a lack of commitment among policymakers to address these issues meaningfully. The focus has predominantly been on controlling individual consumers rather than regulating the gambling industry as a whole.
The comprehensive review, conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance at the University of Helsinki, collected data from countries that implemented significant legislative changes to gambling between 2018 and 2021. Despite a growing awareness of gambling-related harms, the findings suggest a notable absence of effective measures to control the industry and its impact on individuals and society.
The results of this groundbreaking review have been documented in an article published by The Lancet Public Health, the world's leading public health journal. Dr. Daria Ukhova, the Project Investigator from the University of Glasgow's School of Social and Political Sciences, emphasized the devastating impacts of harmful gambling, including an elevated risk of suicide attempts and high levels of indebtedness.
Dr. Virve Marionneau from the Centre for Research on Addiction, Control, and Governance at the University of Helsinki underscored the importance of a global approach to reviewing gambling legislation. The comparative understanding of different legislative and regulatory approaches to gambling harms is crucial, considering the scattered and unstandardized policy responses to the severe global issue of gambling-related harms.
The research findings stress the need for governments to move beyond a focus on individual-level harms and take systemic action to regulate gambling industry practices and product design. This research aims to contribute to the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling, offering recommendations for long-term policy directions, interjurisdictional collaboration, and strategic planning to address gambling as a public health issue nationally and globally. The research further emphasizes that governments must prioritize systemic solutions to how gambling is provided and promoted in their respective countries to effectively address the associated health issues.
Read the full story on the University news webpage
First published: 10 November 2023