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Transforming Addictions Policy Through Research
Understanding gambling harms and their profound impact on affected others across the United Kingdom
The Hidden Epidemic: Gambling Harms in the UK Today
2.5%
Problem Gamblers
Adults in Great Britain classified as problem gamblers, with nearly 12% at moderate or low risk
58%
Without Support
Of those affected do not access any support services despite experiencing harms
12%
At Risk
Additional adults classified as moderate or low-risk gamblers requiring intervention
Gambling harms extend far beyond individuals to devastate families, friends, employers, and entire communities. These ripple effects manifest as severe financial distress, deteriorating mental health, relationship breakdowns, and tragically, in some cases, suicide. The Gambling Commission's 2023 data reveals an alarming reality: whilst millions experience harm, the majority suffer in silence without accessing vital support services.
Financial Impact
Household debt, bankruptcy, loss of savings, and long-term financial instability affecting entire families
Mental Health Crisis
Depression, anxiety, shame, and suicidal ideation amongst gamblers and their loved ones
Relationship Breakdown
Trust erosion, separation, divorce, and fractured family dynamics causing lasting trauma
Why Current Policies Fall Short
The Challenge of Online Gambling
Online gambling now accounts for 44% of UK gambling turnover and is intrinsically linked to faster, more accessible, and significantly more harmful gambling behaviours according to research published in the Harm Reduction Journal (2025). The digital landscape has fundamentally transformed how people gamble, introducing unprecedented risks.
Legal frameworks have struggled to keep pace with rapid technological innovation, resulting in inadequate regulation of online platforms. Emerging risks such as loot boxes in gaming blur the boundaries between entertainment and gambling, particularly endangering young people. Current harm reduction efforts disproportionately emphasise individual responsibility rather than implementing systemic solutions, leaving vulnerable groups critically underserved and unprotected.
Technological Gap
Regulation hasn't kept pace with innovations in online gambling platforms, algorithms, and gamification techniques
Individual Focus
Policies place responsibility on gamblers rather than addressing systemic industry practices and environmental factors
Emerging Threats
Loot boxes, social casino games, and cryptocurrency gambling create new pathways to harm without adequate oversight
Voices from the Frontline
Stories of Affected Others
Families and friends often suffer in devastating silence. Cutting-edge research demonstrates how gambling harms create powerful ripple effects throughout entire social networks, causing profound emotional trauma and severe financial strain that can persist for generations. The invisible victims of gambling addiction frequently experience isolation, shame, and helplessness whilst watching loved ones spiral into crisis.
Darran's Story
"Gambling harms devastated my family's finances and mental wellbeing. We lost our savings, nearly lost our home, and the psychological impact still affects us years later. The system failed us because support focused only on the gambler, not on those of us picking up the pieces."
The Gambling Harms Action Lab
Actively involves people with lived experience, including affected others, to co-create better support tools and transformative policies
Research Community
Members like Darran share powerful stories highlighting the urgent need for systemic change and comprehensive support systems
These personal testimonies are driving policy reform and ensuring that future interventions address the full spectrum of gambling-related harm, recognising that recovery must encompass entire family units and social support networks.
Groundbreaking Research Initiatives Driving Change
Centre for Gambling Research
NatCen leads the UK's largest and most comprehensive studies on gambling behaviours, stigma, and harm, directly informing government reforms and evidence-based policy development
Patterns of Play Project
GambleAware's influential research shaped the 2023 Government Gambling White Paper, successfully advocating for financial risk checks and safer gambling messaging frameworks
King's College London
The Policy Institute identified critical research gaps, calling for increased empirical UK-focused studies on harms, affordability thresholds, and protection for vulnerable groups
These pioneering research initiatives represent a fundamental shift towards evidence-led policymaking in the UK gambling sector. By combining rigorous quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from affected communities, researchers are building an irrefutable case for comprehensive regulatory reform. The convergence of academic excellence, policy expertise, and lived experience creates a powerful foundation for transformative change.

Research Impact: Studies conducted by these institutions have directly influenced parliamentary debates, regulatory consultations, and the development of new gambling harm prevention frameworks across the UK.
Measuring What Matters
New Frameworks for Gambling Harms
The Gambling Commission, in partnership with leading public health bodies, has developed a comprehensive framework to define, measure, and systematically monitor gambling-related harms that extend far beyond traditional problem gambling prevalence metrics.
This groundbreaking approach recognises the full spectrum of harm experienced by children, young people, and affected others, whilst rigorously assessing the social and economic costs imposed on public services including healthcare, social care, and criminal justice systems.
01
Define Harms Comprehensively
Establishing clear definitions that capture financial, psychological, physical, social, and cultural impacts across all affected populations
02
Measure Across Populations
Implementing robust measurement tools for gamblers, affected others, children, and vulnerable groups using validated instruments
03
Monitor Systematically
Creating longitudinal surveillance systems to track trends, identify emerging risks, and evaluate intervention effectiveness over time
04
Assess Public Costs
Quantifying economic burden on NHS, social services, law enforcement, and communities to inform resource allocation
Pioneering research on gambling-related suicidality by Dr Heather Wardle and colleagues at Swansea University highlights the severe mental health consequences linked to gambling harms, including elevated suicide risk amongst problem gamblers and their families. This research underscores the life-or-death urgency of effective intervention and prevention strategies.
Public Health Approach: A Paradigm Shift in Policy
Leading public health experts are championing a fundamental paradigm shift, advocating for gambling harms to be treated as a critical cross-sectoral issue affecting clinical, social, family, and financial domains, as outlined in recent BMJ publications (2025). This holistic perspective recognises that gambling harm is not merely an individual failing but a public health crisis requiring coordinated societal response.
Upstream Prevention
Moving beyond treatment to prevent harms before they develop through environmental design and policy
Safer Environments
Creating protective regulatory frameworks, marketing restrictions, and responsible product design standards
Population-Level Impact
Implementing strategies that reduce harm across entire communities, not just identified problem gamblers
Marketing Restrictions
Mounting calls for banning gambling advertisements on public transport reflect growing public concern about exposure and normalisation
Sports Sponsorship Reform
Tighter regulation of gambling sponsorship in football protects young fans and reduces association between sport and betting
Product Safety Standards
Mandating safer gambling product design, including speed limits, stake restrictions, and mandatory breaks in play
This public health framework emphasises that preventing gambling harm requires systemic change across advertising, product design, accessibility, and cultural norms—not simply treating those already affected. By addressing root causes rather than symptoms, we can create a fundamentally safer gambling environment for all citizens.
Collaborative Solutions
Engaging Financial Services and Regulators
The Financial Conduct Authority's Consumer Duty now requires firms to prevent foreseeable gambling harms amongst customers, marking a revolutionary expansion of financial institutions' responsibilities. This regulatory shift recognises that banks and payment providers occupy a unique position to identify risk patterns and intervene before catastrophic harm occurs.
1
Regulatory Framework
FCA Consumer Duty establishes legal obligation for financial firms to identify and prevent gambling-related harm
2
Data Analysis
Banks deploy sophisticated algorithms to detect concerning spending patterns indicating problem gambling behaviours
3
Proactive Intervention
Financial institutions flag risky behaviours and offer timely support, connecting customers with appropriate resources
4
Partnership Model
Gambling Harms Action Lab collaborates with banks to refine identification methods and support pathways
Pioneering Interventions
The Gambling Harms Action Lab partners strategically with major banks to identify and support customers at risk through innovative, data-driven approaches. Early findings demonstrate that financial institutions can play an absolutely pivotal role in harm reduction by monitoring transaction patterns, flagging concerning behaviours, and offering immediate, compassionate support.
These collaborative initiatives represent a fundamental shift from reactive crisis management to proactive harm prevention, potentially reaching vulnerable individuals before they experience devastating consequences. By leveraging financial data ethically and responsibly, we can create powerful new frontiers in gambling harm reduction.
Policy Recommendations
Towards a Safer Gambling Landscape
Strengthen Legal Frameworks
Comprehensively regulate online gambling platforms and emerging digital risks including cryptocurrency gambling, social casino games, and loot boxes
  • Close regulatory loopholes in digital gambling
  • Establish robust age verification systems
  • Mandate transparency in algorithms and odds
Invest in Research
Fund UK-specific empirical research to fill critical knowledge gaps on harms, costs, and effective interventions
  • Long-term longitudinal studies on harm development
  • Economic impact assessments on public services
  • Evaluation of prevention strategies
Expand Support Services
Dramatically increase access to support, especially for affected others, and integrate lived experience into policy design
  • Dedicated services for families and friends
  • Reduction of stigma and barriers to help-seeking
  • Co-production with people with lived experience
Implement Systemic Approaches
Adopt comprehensive public health measures including financial risk checks, marketing restrictions, and reformed public messaging
  • Mandatory affordability assessments
  • Ban gambling advertising in public spaces
  • Safer product design standards
These evidence-based recommendations provide a clear roadmap for transforming UK gambling policy from a fragmented, reactive approach to a coherent, preventative public health framework. Implementation requires political will, sustained investment, and unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from preventable harm.
Join the Movement
Shaping the Future of Gambling Policy
The time to act is now. Transforming addictions policy requires evidence-led, compassionate, and systemic responses that address the root causes of gambling harm. We stand at a critical juncture where research, lived experience, and political momentum are converging to create unprecedented opportunities for meaningful change.
Collaborate for Change
Policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and communities must work together to reduce harms and protect vulnerable populations through coordinated action
Learn the Evidence
Explore groundbreaking research findings and evidence-based policy recommendations that can transform the gambling landscape
Share Your Story
Personal experiences drive policy reform. Connect with the Gambling Harms Action Lab and NatCen's Research Community to contribute your voice
"Together, we can build a safer, healthier future free from the devastating impacts of gambling harms. Every voice matters. Every story counts. Every action brings us closer to meaningful change."
Join thousands of concerned citizens, dedicated professionals, and courageous advocates who are demanding comprehensive gambling reform. Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, healthcare professional, person with lived experience, or concerned citizen—your participation is vital. Together, we will create the evidence-based, compassionate policies that protect current and future generations from preventable gambling-related harm.