Research

Trump Tower Tbilisi partners face scrutiny over alleged links to Santeda black market gambling

A new investigation by gambling harm watchdog GAMRS has raised questions about business partners involved in the planned Trump Tower Tbilisi development, alleging links between several construction firms and Santeda International, the global illegal gambling network behind brands such as MyStake, GoldenBet and VeloBet. The report examines relationships between development partners Finvest, BLOX and other…

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Belgium public health body finds less than 3% of gamblers at-risk despite high ad exposure

Sciensano has reported that risky gambling behaviour in Belgium has remained stable over the past five years, although more than half of the population continues to be exposed to gambling advertising on a weekly basis.

According to the Belgium public health institute’s latest Health Survey, 2.6% of Belgian players currently display risky gambling behaviour, while 0.6% are considered at high risk of problematic gambling activity.

At the same time, the survey found that 52.2% of the Belgian population is exposed weekly to at least one form of gambling advertising via either television, websites or social media platforms.

The research also highlighted the continued dominance of lottery products within the Belgian market, with nine out of 10 Belgian players participating in lottery games.

Exposure to gambling sponsorship appears more mixed. Around one in 10 Belgians reported frequent exposure to sponsorship activity, while four in 10 stated they noticed little or no gambling sponsorshi..

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Groundbreaking study challenges links between socioeconomic status and loss chasing

Online gamblers from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to keep betting after wins, while gamblers from poorer backgrounds are more likely to continue after losses, according to new research from the University of Sydney, but the researchers found little evidence of loss chasing. “Our working paper finds that the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and…

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Researchers call on UKGC to clear up baffling bonus requirements

Regulators should require betting firms to show the real cash cost of “10x” wagering requirements in pounds and pence, according to new research that finds UK gamblers consistently misunderstand bonus offers – and rate them as far less attractive when the true cost is made explicit. “Free bets” and welcome bonuses are a core marketing…

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Gambling satisfaction may offer a simple new signal of problem betting, study finds

Researchers say a single-question measure of “gambling satisfaction” could help identify harmful gambling behaviour – without the stigma or complexity of traditional screening tools. The big picture: Gambling harms are already known to erode wellbeing across finances, relationships and mental health. But this study introduces a new lens: how satisfied people feel about their gambling…

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Swedish research highlights positive impact of technology and regulation as problem gambling drops to 1.3%

Stakeholders of the Swedish gambling industry are being urged to align on more evidence-led approaches to problem gambling, as new analysis highlights the complexity of risk profiles shaping player behaviour. Coordination across regulators, operators and public health bodies is seen as critical to defending Sweden’s stable problem gambling rates against emerging and existing liabilities.

The findings draw on a report commissioned by BOS, Sweden’s Online Gambling Trade Association, led by economist Ola Nevander of Makrologik.

Covering 25 years of data, Nevander’s research titled “The Development of Problem Gambling in Sweden” provides a long-term view of the development of problem gambling in Sweden, while challenging assumptions about the impact of market expansion, regulatory change and rising accessibility on addiction rates.

On prevalence, the report finds that problem gambling in Sweden has declined and stabilised over the past two decades, despite the liberalisation of the mar..

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New study finds responsible gambling tools have limited impact on betting behaviour

Responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits have limited effects on curbing risky behaviour, according to a new study of more than 24,000 online sports bettors in Australia. Tools that merely raise awareness or set voluntary limits rarely change behaviour unless they directly restrict access to betting. The findings raise questions about whether current harm-minimisation…

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NHS: 5% of adults are at risk of problem gambling

The latest data from NHS England estimates that 5% of adults in England display at-risk or problem gambling behaviours, whilst less than 1% of adults are currently classified as problem gamblers.
The figures are drawn from the Health Survey for England 2024 (HSE 2024), providing official public health data on health conditions and behavioural factors across the adult population. The survey covers England only and excludes Scotland and Wales.

The HSE tracks trends in health conditions and prevalence related to adult cigarette smoking, use of e-cigarettes (vaping), alcohol consumption, physical activity and gambling participation.

NHS England data places gambling harm within a wider public-health landscape that also includes obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and mental health conditions among adults.

Audiences are reminded to distinguish between diagnosed health conditions and behavioural risk factors that contribute to or worsen illness.

Under the HSE methodology, gambling harm is..

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Case report: treating gambling disorder with rTMS and poker videos 

Key finding: Pairing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with real-time “symptom provocation” (poker videos) sharply reduced gambling cravings and depression in a 22-year-old man with severe gambling disorder – suggesting a new way to boost the brain-based treatment’s impact. That’s according to a case report published in the official journal of the TMS Society by…

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