A ground-breaking approach
to understanding the full range of harms gambling can have on
society was published yesterday.
It 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. The report 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 Chief Executive, Neil McArthur said: “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.”
Dr Heather Wardle, lead author of the report commented: "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 commented: "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."
