Gambling has been actively finding itself in the centre of plenty of discussion concerning its precautionary and preventive perspective.

Amid the disclosure of its latest study, the Gambling Health Alliance says “a public health approach to gambling should include protecting the whole population and those at risk of, and currently, experiencing harms, including young people.”

The GHA released statistics that concern gamblers and non-gamblers’ opinions on online slots limits. Per the statistics, 58% of gamblers and 61% of non-gamblers would support a £2 limit to online slots.

Based on the representative sample of 2,094 UK adults aged 18 and over, the poll was conducted by Yonder from February 26-28, 2021. Out of everyone sampled, a total of 1,442 reported that they had gambled, with examples including casinos, slots, online gambling, lottery, sports betting, bingo, or scratch cards, while 652 had never done so.

The Gambling Health Alliance noted that the public health approach should also take a precautionary and preventive perspective along with the de-normalisation of gambling. They suggested this should be done by investing in research, education, and treatment, reducing people’s overall exposure to gambling, collaborating between key stakeholders from different backgrounds and introducing proper measures in place between the online and offline ecosystems. 

The findings come with just a week until the Gambling Act review call for evidence closes.

Gambling Health Alliance lead, Louisa Mason, said: “We have a real opportunity right now with the Gambling Act review to make gambling safer. For too long the gambling ecosystem has developed into a powerful mechanism that has the potential to unleash harm and devastate lives”.

Mason also commented:

“We now have the chance to do better and protect all those who gamble in the UK – and the public supports this. Let’s drive up standards that will improve safety and enjoyment.”    

The report reflected on a full ban of gambling as well, where numbers showed that 57% of gamblers and 63% of non-gamblers would support a ban on all gambling for under-18s. Additionally, 53% and 64% would back the suppression of VIP schemes.

Director of Clean Up Gambling, Matt Zarb-Cousin, said: “Public support for gambling reform is overwhelming. It’s one of the few issues uniting the country across political, demographic and regional lines”.

Zarb-Cousin concluded:

“There is a growing consensus that our gambling laws are outdated, and regulation is not fit for purpose. The government cannot waste the opportunity this review presents to make it right.”

The GHA suggested this is the base for building the evidence base for effective policymaking.

Further key highlights of the research see 56% of gamblers and 66% of non-gamblers support a ban on all gambling advertising in or near sports grounds or venues.