Harm minimization strategies aim to lessen the harm that gambling causes to gamblers, their families, friends and the wider community. Such strategies include self-exclusion programs, bet limits and time restrictions on gaming sessions.
These strategies can be implemented locally and are more practical than national policies, allowing differentiation based on vulnerability levels.
Self-exclusion programs
Self-exclusion programs allow individuals to voluntarily limit themselves from entering casinos, taking away the temptation of gambling. Self-exclusion can also help gamblers manage finances and focus on other activities. Unfortunately, research on this harm minimization strategy is inconclusive – some reviews indicate that gamblers continue gambling outside exclusion venues while others suggest it has reduced problem gambling behavior.
Self-exclusion program participants reported reduced gambling behaviors after participating. Most participants also saw decreases in frequency and amount spent gambling; most also noted improvements in quality of life, work performance and psychosocial functioning as a result of participation.
Researchers recently conducted an evaluation of self-exclusion programs by interviewing 152 individuals who had taken part. This sample was drawn from casino samples and consisted of those who predominantly played electronic gaming machines (EGMs) as well as people meeting pathological gambling criteria. Alongside conducting self-report surveys and follow up interviews, researchers also performed follow up interviews and analysed face-to-face casino data.
Limits on bets
Limits on bets can be an effective means of reducing gambling-related harm; however, they come with their own set of risks. First and foremost is unintended consequences: problem gamblers’ increasing spending; this is especially likely if limits are too low or prevent bettors from trying to recoup losses by placing larger bets later; furthermore, sportsbooks could lose out from sportsbook’s trying to gain competitive edge by restricting skilled bettors from joining them in betting on matches.
Limits on bets can be difficult to implement in digital environments due to various harmful influences present, including increased access to gambling products and encouraging impulsive behaviour. Therefore, more research needs to be conducted on ways of implementing harm reduction strategies within these digital environments.
Further research should explore the effectiveness of other preventive measures, such as time management strategies and feedback during gambling, in reducing problem gambling rates. Furthermore, community and stakeholder engagement must also be explored within these strategies.
Limits on time spent gambling
Gambling-related harms include financial strain, family and relationship breakdown, mental illness, suicide and diverted household spending away from basic needs, increasing poverty. Harm reduction measures such as universal pre-commitment, centrally registered accounts with binding loss limits and restrictions on venue density are necessary in order to protect vulnerable gamblers. Research indicates that such measures are more effective than voluntary systems.
Age restrictions are one of the most widely implemented strategies for combatting gambling harms. These policies aim to curb underage gambling by requiring verification of identity through cross-checks with national identity databases or personal identification systems, with online environments making this simple to implement by using behavioral patterns rather than demographic and socio-economic characteristics as proof. Gambling companies can use their own data to promote responsible gambling by setting daily or session limits for players and setting daily/session caps as an additional measure against underage gambling.
Disincentives for gambling
Gambling can have disastrous repercussions, from relationship breakdown and family violence, financial distress and drug use leading to criminal activities and erosion of civil institutions through corruption or corporate political involvement, damage done to children’s mental health issues as well as lasting impacts that will last throughout generations.
Interventions exist to minimize gambling-related harms. These include decreasing advertising and promotions, centralized account registration to require gamblers to set binding loss limits, and restrictions regarding access (opening hours, density).
Evidence for these strategies’ effectiveness may be limited, yet they can help mitigate gambling-related harm. There is some support for universal pre-commitment systems which require gamblers to set binding spending limits both financially and time wise. Unfortunately voluntary systems have low uptake and non-enforceable commitment agreements; warning messages highlighting gambling’s serious harms are also effective and should be directed toward vulnerable groups such as young people or those struggling with other addictions.
