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…
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…
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…
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..
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…
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..
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…
Researchers in Italy and Germany reported a six-week course of high-frequency brain stimulation dramatically reduced gambling cravings and symptoms in a patient with severe gambling disorder – suggesting the therapy could work as a standalone, first-line treatment when medication or psychotherapy aren’t used. Why it matters: Gambling disorder has no standardized treatment and…
Concerns over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in gambling-related research have intensified after politicians and academics raised questions about an evidence review used to support a AU$20m (£10.4m) funding request for youth gambling education in Australia.
Independent Senator David Pocock, a longtime advocate for gambling reform in Australia, said he was “deeply concerned” about the report circulated by the OurFutures Institute. The MP blasted the research, telling officials it “appears to just be slop written by AI”.
He added that the document was “full of AI hallucinations, including references to studies that don’t exist and statements presented as facts that are completely false or grossly exaggerated”.
Analysis of the review by Guardian Australia found at least 21 problematic references, including broken links, citations to papers that do not exist and claims unsupported by the research cited.
In one example, the review claimed a government inquiry found “every $1 i..
Benchmarking player protection across Africa Across Africa, gambling regulation and player protection are evolving at pace. New laws, emerging regulators, and growing political focus have placed safer gambling firmly on the agenda. Yet progress is uneven. While some markets are moving quickly toward modern frameworks, others remain constrained by unclear rules, limited enforcement, and the…