According to a recent study, the prevalence of gambling in society as a whole and the rise in gambling-related harm are directly correlated. The study, titled “The Total Consumption Model Applied to Gambling,” looked at data from 40,000 gamblers and found that, in addition to personal vulnerabilities, societal gaming activity significantly contributes to harm.
Societal Patterns Drive Gambling Harm
The study, funded by a coalition of international academic and government organizations, supports the Total Consumption Model for gambling. This framework emphasizes the need for universal prevention strategies to reduce harm across entire populations, rather than targeting specific individuals. It argues that addressing systemic gambling behaviors and societal trends is crucial to mitigating public health risks.
The research received backing from several major local authorities in Great Britain, operating under the 2005 Gambling Act’s mandate to prioritize the “prevention of harm.” Additionally, prominent health and gambling-focused organizations from various countries contributed to the study’s funding.
In the United States, proponents of gambling expansion often champion “responsible gambling” initiatives that aim to address harm among vulnerable individuals. However, the study notes a lack of evidence that such initiatives effectively reduce harm. Instead, the expansion of gambling markets has coincided with increased public health concerns. The findings suggest that focusing solely on individual cases overlooks the broader societal impact.
Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), emphasized the need for systemic reforms. He stated, “For years, we’ve warned in the UK and Europe that expanding gambling leads to expanding gambling harm. In the US, the situation is even more dire, as the existing illegal offshore online gambling market remains significant. State-by-state legalization of online gambling has done little to curb this illegal market or mitigate harm. Federal intervention is the only way to address this escalating issue.”
The study underscores the importance of comprehensive strategies to address gambling harm, moving beyond localized efforts to tackle systemic issues across the industry.
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