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Relative risk of gambling products within Great Britain – Findings from a rapid literature review and secondary analysis project

Author: Bournemouth University Published: January 2025
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Summary

This report outlines findings from a literature review and a secondary analysis of four years of data from the treatment and support online survey. It looks specifically at the relative harm of different gambling products and provides recommendations to policymakers in Great Britain.

Topics covered

  • rapid literature review findings regarding the relative harm of different gambling products and modes
  • secondary analyses looking at the prevalence of “problem gambling” (PGSI 8+) per product and category
  • behavioural and demographic differences in harm associated with each gambling product
  • recommendations for future research and policy-makers

Key findings

  • the results align with the White Paper, highlighting the importance of shared customer databases for improved affordability checks but advocate for more stringent gambling regulations
  • academic studies have identified EGM use as the most significant predictor of experiencing gambling problems
  • gaming machines in bookmakers and online casino games are particularly harmful as they exhibited the largest proportion of individuals experiencing gambling problems
  • online gambling generally poses higher risks than offline gambling due to its accessibility and immersive design.
  • combining multiple gambling activities correlates with increased risks of gambling harms

A PDF infographic outlining the relative risk of gambling products is also available, complementing the main report with key findings and recommendations.

Related content

Treatment and support survey
Publication library
Our research
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