Stigma Prevents People Accessing Gambling Support as per UKGC
New research by UK regulator the Gambling Commission (UKGC) has found that people may avoid seeking help for gambling-related harms due to the associated stigma.
UKGC research has looked into the effectiveness of gambling support. © Michał Parzuchowski, Unsplash
Key Facts:
- The research featured 25 in-depth interviews with participants
- Respondents had previously took part in another UKGC study
- NatCen conducted the interviews by phone or using MS Teams
- UKGC aims to deepen understanding of gambling-related harm
The major new study from UKGC aims to deepen understanding of gambling-related harms.
Carried out by NatCen and using support from the Gambling Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), the UKGC research features 25 in-depth interviews with individuals who previously took part in the Gambling Survey for Great Britain.
As well as assessing some of the main positives and negatives of gambling, the piece of research also aimed to look at changes to gambling consequences through time.
But perhaps the most interesting section of the landmark UKGC research was the part looking into how people engage with gambling-related harm support options.
Gambling Support Barriers
UKGC noted that the 25 people who took part in the research showed a “mixed level of awareness” of the different types of gambling support tools and services that are available to access in the UK.
While some of the participants knew about support tools like self-exclusion or using deposit limits, along with support services such as helplines or charities, others had no awareness.
Respondents reported seeing advertisements for support services on gambling apps and websites, as well as for helplines printed on the back of scratchcards.
One study participant said: “Loads of adverts pop up saying get help, if you need to talk. There’s loads of support out there for people.”
But UKGC found some people felt they had not experienced enough gambling-related harms to qualify for any of the support available.
However, those who had used self-help tools such as reality checks or loss limits reported having had a positive experience with them.
Remorse And Shame
The stigma around gambling may be preventing some people from seeking out help, according to the new UKGC study.
Gambling Commission research participants said they would feel like a failure if they had to admit they needed help controlling their betting.
One person who took part said it would be “quite embarrassing” to need help.
They added: “I’m going to be honest, at the time when you’re doing it, you don’t really feel anything, but afterwards you do feel quite remorseful and quite shameful. “
“Then having to explain to the people that are closest to you is quite… in your mind, it’s quite a daunting task. It is embarrassing to have to admit.”
Others who were involved in the UKGC research said they had doubts about how trustworthy and effective some of the gambling industry’s tools could be.
