Global public health action is needed to counter the commercial gambling industry

Thomas, Samantha; Cowlishaw, Sean; Francis, Joel; van Schalkwyk, May C I; Daube, Mike; Pitt, Hannah; McCarthy, Simone; McGee, Darragh; Petticrew, Mark; Rwafa-Ponela, Teurai; Minja, Anase; Fell, Greg

doi:10.1093/heapro/daad110

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Researchers have recognized that the current research focus on the tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food industries has been understandable given the significant health and social burdens that they cause to communities ( Gilmore et al , 2023 ; Lacy‐Nichols et al , 2023 ). However, newer industries such as vaping and online commercial gambling ( Thomas et al , 2023a ), as well as the fossil fuel ( Friel et al , 2023 ) and firearm industries ( Maani et al , 2020 ), operate from a similar playbook and utilize a range of novel practices and promotions to diversify and expose a new generation of consumers to their products. Furthermore, recent frameworks have recognized that the CDoH encompasses much more than harmful industry practices ( Lee et al , 2022 ) and include the ‘ systems, practices, and pathways through which commercial actors drive health and equity ’ ( Gilmore et al , 2023 , p. 1195).…”

Section: Developments In Commercial Determinants Of Health (Cdoh) Sch...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we provide several examples to highlight the importance of investigating how corporations may use CSR strategies to soften perceptions of risk, engage and feature young people and build brand loyalty. CSR is a marketing strategy that aims to improve a company’s image within the community, divert attention from the negative impacts of their products, influence policymaking and prevent regulatory reform ( Thomas et al , 2023a ; Thomas et al , 2023b ). While CSR strategies are diverse, many have a specific focus on young people.…”

Section: The Impact Of Contemporary Marketing Strategies On Young Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health

Pitt,

McCarthy,

Arnot

2024

Health Promotion International

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) have a significant impact on the health and well-being of children and young people (subsequently referred to as young people). While most research has focused on the influence of harmful industry marketing on young people, more recent CDoH frameworks have emphasized that a range of commercial systems and practices may influence health and well-being. Focusing on the impact of traditional and digital media, contemporary marketing strategies and corporate production and consumption processes, the following article outlines the impact of the CDoH on the health and wellbeing of young people. The article also provides evidence about how young people conceptualize the impact of corporate actors on health, and their involvement in advocacy strategies to respond. The article recommends that when collaborating with young people to understand the impacts of and responses to the CDoH, we should seek to diversify investigations towards the impact of a range of corporate tactics, systems and structures, rather than simply focusing on the impacts of advertising. This should include considering areas and priorities that young people identify as areas for action and understanding why some young people are more vulnerable to commercial tactics than others. Youth are powerful allies in responding to the CDoH. Public health and health promotion stakeholders could do more to champion the voices of young people and allow them to be active participants in the decisions that are made about harmful commercial practices and health.

show abstract

Section: Developments In Commercial Determinants Of Health (Cdoh) Sch...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Impact Of Contemporary Marketing Strategies On Young Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health

Pitt,

McCarthy,

Arnot

2024

Health Promotion International

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The commercial gambling industry is one of the most innovative health-harming industries of modern times, posing a significant threat to public health ( Badu et al ., 2023 ; Glozah et al ., 2023 ; Thomas et al ., 2023a ). While the commercial gambling industry operates from a similar playbook to other health-harming industries such as tobacco and alcohol ( Cowlishaw and Thomas, 2018 ; de Lacy-Vawdon et al ., 2023 ), governments have rarely recognized the tactics of the gambling industry as a public health issue ( van Schalkwyk et al ., 2021 ; Thomas et al ., 2023a ). Consequently, there have been limited efforts outside of personal responsibility strategies to protect communities from harm ( Miller et al ., 2016 ; van Schalkwyk et al ., 2021 ; Arnot et al ., 2023d ; Badu et al ., 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young people’s views about the use of celebrities and social media influencers in gambling marketing

Pitt,

McCarthy,

Randle

et al. 2024

Health Promotion International

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Young people’s exposure to gambling marketing has had a clear impact on their gambling attitudes, risk perceptions and consumption intentions. Celebrities and social media influencers (SMIs) are increasingly used by the gambling industry in a wide range of promotions. While there is evidence that these types of promotions are influential in shaping young people’s attitudes towards other harmful products, there is limited evidence in relation to gambling. Qualitative focus groups (n = 22) with n = 64, 12–17 year olds were conducted in Australia. These investigated young people’s exposure to celebrity and SMI marketing for gambling and the influence they perceived this marketing had on young people’s gambling attitudes. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct four themes from the data. First, young people perceived that celebrities and SMIs created additional appeal and recall of gambling advertisements because they were attention grabbing and familiar. Second, young people thought that celebrities and SMIs increased the trust, legitimacy and social acceptance of gambling. Third, the use of celebrities and SMIs lowered the perceptions of risk associated with gambling. Lastly, there were suggestions to reduce the impact of celebrity and SMI gambling promotions on young people, such as bans and restrictions. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to preventing young people’s exposure to gambling marketing, that not only considers imposing stronger regulations to restrict the way the gambling industry is allowed to promote its products, but also aims to counter the novel ways the gambling industry attempts to appeal to children and young people.

show abstract

“…They include harms to relationships, resources, and health [ 12 ], such as intimate partner violence [ 13 ], crime [ 14 ], costs to the economy [ 15 ], and suicide [ 16 ], with wide-ranging consequences for individuals, families, communities and society [ 17 ]. Research is increasingly revealing the extent of commercially-driven normalisation of gambling and its harmful products, as well as the tactics of the gambling industry, which echo other harmful industries, in circumventing regulation and shaping associated discourses [ 18 ]. LE involvement in GRH research and practice is growing, with further research required to more fully understand its contribution [ 12 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Engaging PLE in facilitating recognition and awareness of GRH is an emerging area of study [ 12 , 19 , 26 , 27 ] and in the meantime, GRH treatment and education are funded and, in some cases, directly provided by the gambling industry, rather than statutory public health bodies [ 18 , 28 ]. The development of LE involvement in the gambling sector is distinct because of this policy context, which is also important for understanding the barriers that PLE face when they get involved in the sector.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Involving lived experience in regional efforts to address gambling-related harms: going beyond ‘window dressing’ and ‘tick box exercises’

Jenkins,

Mills,

Grimes

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Lived Experience (LE) involvement has been shown to improve interventions across diverse sectors. Yet LE contributions to public health approaches to address gambling-related harms remain underexplored, despite notable detrimental health and social outcomes linked to gambling. This paper analyses the potential of LE involvement in public health strategy to address gambling-related harms. It focuses on the example of a UK city-region gambling harms reduction intervention that presented multiple opportunities for LE input. Methods Three focus groups and 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted to hear from people with and without LE who were involved in the gambling harms reduction intervention, or who had previous experience of LE-informed efforts for addressing gambling-related harms. People without LE provided reflections on the value and contributions of others’ LE to their work. Data analysis combined the Framework Method with themes developed inductively (from people’s accounts) and deductively (from the literature, including grey literature). Results Four themes were identified: (1) personal journeys to LE involvement; (2) the value added by LE to interventions for addressing gambling-related harms; (3) emotional impacts on people with LE; and (4) collective LE and diverse lived experiences. Two figures outlining LE involvement specific to gambling harms reduction in the UK, where public health efforts aimed at addressing gambling-related harms coexist with industry-funded programmes, are proposed. Conclusions Integrating a range of LE perspectives in a public health approach to gambling harms reduction requires local access to involvement for people with LE via diverse routes that are free from stigma and present people with LE with options in how they can engage and be heard in decision-making, and how they operate in relation to industry influence. Involving LE in gambling harms reduction requires enabling people to develop the affective and critical skills necessary to navigate complex emotional journeys and a challenging commercial and policy environment.

show abstract

Global public health action is needed to counter the commercial gambling industry

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health

Children, young people and the Commercial Determinants of Health

Young people’s views about the use of celebrities and social media influencers in gambling marketing

Involving lived experience in regional efforts to address gambling-related harms: going beyond ‘window dressing’ and ‘tick box exercises’

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About