Bombarding gamblers with offers greatly increases betting and gambling harm
5 hours ago
- #marketing
- #addiction
- #gambling
- Participants who opted out of direct gambling marketing placed 23% fewer bets and spent 39% less money.
- Those not receiving marketing reported 67% fewer short-term gambling harms, such as reduced distress.
- First study to show a causal link between gambling marketing exposure and increased harms in real-world settings.
- UK Government's 2023 white paper on gambling lacked evidence of marketing's causal harm; this study challenges that.
- Personal story: Naman Jawaid's gambling addiction started with a TV ad, leading to financial crime and prison.
- Naman now works with GamLEARN, advocating against gambling harms and supporting recovery.
- Randomized controlled trial in Australia with 227 regular gamblers showed direct marketing increases harm.
- Calls for tighter regulations or a complete ban on gambling marketing to protect consumers.
- Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research aims to raise awareness and improve policy and support.