Current advances in gambling research 2024: What we learned
- Written by: Hannah Gunn
- Published: 31st July 2024

The Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme share reflections from the 'Current Advances in Gambling Research' Conference.
June 2024 was an exciting month for gambling harm research at a global scale, as the ‘Current Advances in Gambling Research’ Conference (CAGR) was held in Amsterdam.
The ALLIANCE’s Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm team headed to the conference to learn about advances in gambling research from across the world and to share priorities from the Scottish Gambling Harm Lived Experience Forum.
Some of our highlights were:
- Fay Laider’s, PhD student at the University of Glasgow, research on exploring the role of women with lived experience of gambling harms in policy and research, with the aim of examining any barriers to engagement among marginalised groups. Fay’s research is ongoing, but one of the key findings from this study is that it is not only women with lived experience, but also men, who are under-represented in senior policy roles across organisations who support people harmed by gambling.
- ‘Words matter: A language guide for respectful reporting on gambling’ from University of Glasgow. A guide co-produced by people with lived experience of gambling harm to influence how civil servants, politicians, and journalists to discuss gambling harms. These guidelines identify 8 principles for the respectful reporting of gambling harm, such as using person-first language.

- Tackling Gambling Stigma’s qualitative research with people directly affected by gambling harm and affected others. Tackling Gambling Stigma found that almost all affected others viewed gambling advertisement as a problem. But, often until people knew that their loved one was experiencing harm from gambling, they initially did not notice how widespread gambling advertisement is.
- Amsterdam UMC‘s upcoming piece of research which is focusing on finding out more about the characteristics of young people who gamble in the Netherlands, and and possible cognitive, psychosocial and social factors that are possible gateways to harmful gambling. More about this research can be found here.
- Hearing about the different approaches globally to regulating gambling and responding to gambling harm. Common themes include trialing self-exclusion procedures, banning television and radio advertisements, and effectively evaluating treatment outcomes.
There was research shared using a huge variety of approaches to explore gambling harm, from economic modelling to marketing research, and focusing on areas from prevention, treatment, to how different communities are impacted.
Some of the priorities for research which emerged throughout the conference were:
- Youth gambling behaviour and the influence of online gambling
- The drivers of a normalisation culture of gambling, including how it has been created as a social norm
- The effects of harm reduction strategies in tackling gambling advertisement
- The relationship between gambling expenditure and gambling harm, and the economic impact of changing gambling regulations
- The links between gambling, sport, and exposure to advertisement
We also shared findings from our roundtable event in May 2023: ‘Explore: Mental Health and Gambling Harms’, including:
Difficulties accessing treatment and support
Participants at our event discussed at depth the limited support available in Scotland for people experiencing mental ill-health as a result of gambling harm. It was shared that it can be hard to find support, that pathways to treatment aren’t clear and choice is limited.
Limited data, research, and evidence
Further independent research, and evidence of the link between mental health and gambling harm is essential. Participants highlighted the need for good quality data on how they connect, the scale and extent of harm from gambling in Scotland and the need to gather data with an intersectional approach.
The need for a collective voice
Another theme that emerged was the need to establish a collective voice in Scotland for those working to address gambling harm. Participants described that they valued the space to come together with decision makers to share priorities, which is hoped to contribute to social change. Partnership working was identified as a key mechanism to establish a collective voice to address both intersecting issues.
The role of activism
Activism has an important role on raising awareness and creating public pressure on policymakers to address gambling harm in Scotland. People shared the need to nurture recovery communities in Scotland and acknowledge the role activism plays in influencing change.
The impact of stigma
Although some progress has been made to destigmatise mental illness and experiencing poor mental health, stigma and shame around gambling harm still exists. A lack of awareness of the issue, the hidden nature of harms and the prevalence of gambling advertisements all contribute to a perpetuation of gambling-related stigma.
The wider context
The final theme contextualised several different factors which must be addressed to fully understand and address gambling harms and mental health in Scotland. To fully address both issues, the role of funding, industry accountability, education and prevention, advertisement, and the regulation of online and land-based gambling must all be considered.
You can read more from our report here.
Promoting the voice of lived experience was a key focus for the conference and several people asked questions about our work and how to do research that makes sure people are safe, supported, and listened to.
CAGR 2024 was a fascinating insight into a vast array of research being undertaken to understand, prevent, mitigate and reduce gambling harm. It highlighted the importance of independent, high-quality research to driving policy and regulatory development.
For more information the conference programme has summaries of the presentations and posters shared.
Please get in touch if you would like any more information and to keep up to date on developments or upcoming opportunities: gamblingharm@alliance-scotland.org.uk.
Information about CAGR
The three-day conference brought together leading academics, clinicians, third sector organisations, and people with lived experience from across the world, who are interested or involved in the study of gambling, and the treatment of gambling-related harm.
The CAGR Conference was not open to anyone directly affiliated with the gambling industry, and academics were prompted to disclose how their research was funded and any potential conflicts of interest with the industry before presenting. This conference was funded by GREO, the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling, ZonMw, and Amsterdam University Medical Center. Find out more about the conference and presenters here.
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