New Research Confirms Gambling Expansion Fuels Gambling Harm

A groundbreaking study reveals a clear connection between the overall scale of gambling in society and rising levels of gambling harm. The research, “The total consumption model applied to gambling,” which analysed data from 40,000 gamblers, underscores that gambling harm is not just about individual vulnerability but is intrinsically linked to the total volume of gambling activity in society.

Funded by a coalition of international academic and government organizations, the study validates the Total Consumption Model of gambling, concluding that universal prevention strategies are essential to mitigating harm across populations. The research emphasises that curbing gambling harm requires addressing systemic behaviours and societal trends—not just targeting individual cases.

The funding for this research includes contributions from major local authorities in Great Britain, which are mandated by the 2005 Gambling Act to prioritise the “prevention of harm” as a licensing objective. Additional funding came from leading health and gambling-focused organisations in multiple countries.

In the US, gambling expansion proponents often rely on the concept of “responsible gambling,” which focuses on addressing harm among a small subset of vulnerable individuals. However, there is no evidence from any U.S. jurisdiction to suggest that this approach has successfully reduced gambling harm. Instead, the expansion of gambling markets has coincided with greater public health risks.

Derek Webb, gambling reform philanthropist and Founder & Funder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG), commented: “For years, we’ve warned in the UK and Europe that expanding gambling leads to expanding gambling harm. In the US, the situation is even more dire, as the existing illegal offshore online gambling market remains significant. State-by-state legalization of online gambling has done little to curb this illegal market or mitigate harm. Federal intervention is the only way to address this escalating issue.”