Avoiding gambling harm: An evidence-based set of safe gambling practices for consumers

Abstract

Prior studies have identified self-regulatory strategies that are infrequently used by problem-gamblers, but which might be protective if used. However, guidelines with evidence-based safe gambling practices (SGPs) that prevent gambling-related harm are lacking. This study aimed to: 1) identify a parsimonious set of evidence-based SGPs that best predict non-harmful gambling amongst gamblers who are otherwise most susceptible to experiencing gambling harm; 2) examine how widely are they used; and 3) assess whether their use differs by gambler characteristics. A sample of 1,174 regular gamblers in Alberta Canada completed an online survey measuring uptake of 43 potential SGPs, gambling harms and numerous risk factors for harmful gambling. Elastic net regression identified a sub-sample of 577 gamblers most susceptible to gambling harm and therefore most likely to benefit from the uptake of SGPs. A second elastic net predicted gambling harm scores in the sub-sample, using the SGPs as candidate predictors. Nine SGPs best predicted non-harmful gambling amongst this sub-sample. The behaviour most strongly associated with increased harm was using credit to gamble. The behaviour most strongly associated with reduced harm was ‘If I’m not having fun gambling, I stop’. These SGPs form the basis of evidence-based safe gambling guidelines which can be: 1) promoted to consumers, 2) form the basis of self-assessment tests, 3) used to measure safe gambling at a population level, and 4) inform supportive changes to policy and practice. The guidelines advise gamblers to: stop if they are not having fun, keep a household budget, keep a dedicated gambling budget, have a fixed amount they can spend, engage in other leisure activities, avoid gambling when upset or depressed, not use credit for gambling, avoid gambling to make money, and not think that strategies can help you win. These guidelines are a promising initiative to help reduce gambling-related harm.

<p>Gender Differences in Problem Gamblers in an Online Gambling Setting</p>

“…50 Recent data have focused on the potential for the reduction of gamblingrelated harm if gamblers adopt a range of safe gambling practices, such as a budget and a preset limit of how much one can afford to lose, not borrowing money in order to gamble, not using gambling as a part of emotional control, and alternative activities. 51 Consumer credit applications have been suggested as a window of opportunity to screen for problematic gambling, 52 and may be more common in problematic gambling than in non-problematic gambling. 53 "Chasing losses" behavior, i.e.…”

Is There a Health Inequality in Gambling Related Harms? A Systematic Review

“…Twenty-two studies include data on age, and several of these found that being younger was associated with a higher risk of experiencing gambling harms [39][40][41][42][43][44] . In particular one study found that younger age groups (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) were at risk of dependence and social harms 39 , and Ferrara et al 42 found that as well as higher rates of what they label "problematic gambling", younger age groups showed a higher comorbidity with other addictions. In…”

“…Despite this body of research, and many individual studies investigating speci c gambling harms, a systematic review of how harms are distributed across society hasn't yet been done. Although many studies have investigated how harms can be minimised [17][18][19] , a complete understanding of the disease and its impact on society is dependent on understanding how harms are distributed across the population.…”

Is There a Health Inequality in Gambling Related Harms? A Systematic Review

“…Twenty-two studies include data on age, and several of these found that being younger was associated with a higher risk of experiencing gambling harms [39][40][41][42][43][44] . In particular one study found that younger age groups (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) were at risk of dependence and social harms 39 , and Ferrara et al 42 found that as well as higher rates of what they label "problematic gambling", younger age groups showed a higher comorbidity with other addictions.…”