GambleAware funds £350,000 to research gambling stigmatization

GambleAware has stepped forward to fund research backed by NatCen and the University of Wolverhampton. It is estimated that £350,000 have been allocated for the research that aims to analyze how people are affected by discrimination and stigmatization.

Liverpool John Moores University is collaborating for research. It looks at people experiencing gambling problems face discrimination and how they are stigmatized by different sections of society.

Gambling comes at a cost. While some engage with it for entertainment, there are people who dive in too deep, either out of distraction or for the sake of being adventurous. No matter the intent, engaging in gambling with unhealthy intentions can lead to some severe effects on the person. If not dealt with in time, then the person can withdraw from society, making their condition worse than it should be.

Sectors that are going to be studied in the research are:

• Providers of service & healthcare
• Family & local communities
• Charitable organization & civil society
• The gambling industry, in general
• Media and political discourse

NatCen and the University of Wolverhampton will further attempt to analyze which specific communities are affected the most because of discrimination and stigmatization.

There is a possibility that a person who has been affected by gambling problems has a history of being in a terrible environment. This includes losing their jobs or being homeless for a long time. Assuming they intersect at one point, which some believe they do, then the research will also cover that aspect to analyze the effects.

Not just social but health-related factors will also be analyzed, like depression, drug abuse, or any other similar factor.

The findings of the research by NatCen and the University of Wolverhampton are expected to be published in 2024. It is also said that the research paper will cover the measures, services, and interventions that are needed to deal with the existing problem.

GambleAware has clarified that a lot of focus for 2023 and 2024 is on launching programs that lower the stigma associated with gambling harms. GambleAware also plans on launching campaigns to promote the adoption of new behavior.

Calling this an important step, Anna Hargrave has said that the research will help them in building a vast knowledge in the said area. The Chief Commissioning Officer of GambleAware has said that such stigma can stop people from seeking help or from accessing services that look to treat them like the National Gambling Treatment Service.

Currently, there is limited research in Great Britain, said Anna, who is aware that research is definitely needed to break down the barrier of stigmatization and discrimination.

A grant worth £350,000 by GambleAware will now focus on examining how people with gambling problems face difficulties that restrict them from reaching the help center. The University of Wolverhampton and the National Center for Social Research are leading the charge in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University.