GambleAware releases new interactive maps to identify gambling harms treatment and support by location

GambleAware has published new interactive maps designed to help identify take up and reported demand for gambling harms treatment and support services.
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GambleAware has published new interactive maps designed to help identify take up and reported demand for gambling harms treatment and support services across Great Britain (GB).

The charity’s annual GB treatment and support survey produced a nationally representative overview of reported demand and usage of treatment and support, as well as an estimate of the prevalence of gambling harms. 

Broken down by area, the survey outlined the differences in gambling participation, usage and reported demand for treatment and support. Based on this research, GambleAware has produced interactive maps to assist in understanding these geographical differences, and to help inform responses by local authorities and wards.

Research, Information and Knowledge Director Alison Clare commented: “We want to assist local authorities and services in delivering the best possible treatment and support for gambling harms in their area.”

GambleAware’s interactive maps were created by Dr Justin Van Dijk from University College London. They show where certain areas have a higher take up of gambling treatment and support, as well as where there is a greater reported demand for, or awareness of, these services. 

The maps are a visual representation of a 2020 YouGov study that explored the usage of, and reported demand for, treatment and support services among gamblers and those affected by another’s gambling. The total sample size was 18,879 adults.

To produce maps at local authority and ward level, YouGov used multilevel regression and post-stratification (MRP) to estimate gambling prevalence and reported demand for treatment and support services by taking observations from a sample of participants and applying these to the wider population. MRP is based on the premise that similar people hold similar views and exhibit similar behaviours, irrespective of where they live.

GambleAware clarified that existing efforts to address gambling harms may influence levels of treatment and support uptake, also advising that the maps are based on a single set of data and cannot provide an exact result. It recommends that local authorities use the maps in conjunction with local data and information relevant to gambling harms.

In areas where there is a reportedly higher reported demand for gambling treatment or support, the charity encourages local authorities to do more to promote the existing help available through the National Gambling Treatment Service.

Clare added: “These new interactive maps can be used to identify shortfalls between treatment and support services and prevalence of gambling participation and harms, which can be used to inform local responses. The existing support available through the National Gambling Treatment Service can be used to help address these shortfalls.”