Tackling Gambling Stigma: Sharing real life experiences of gambling harm to tackle stigma and discrimination

Session Title

Session 1-3-A: Compounding Issues in Problem Gambling

Presenters

Clare Wyllie, Tackling Gambling StigmaFollow
Alexander Kallman, Tackling Gambling StigmaFollow
Elizabeth Killick, Tackling Gambling StigmaFollow

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

23-5-2023 1:45 PM

End Date

23-5-2023 3:15 PM

Disciplines

Social Influence and Political Communication | Social Psychology and Interaction

Abstract

Abstract

The stigma associated with gambling harm is a harm in itself and exacerbates other harms. Moreover, stigma leads to discrimination, which is evident in how gambling is dealt with by regulatory bodies, financial and healthcare services, the education system, and the justice system. Despite the pervasive consequences of gambling-related stigma, measures to specifically address this issue remain absent from the public health landscape in Great Britain – and globally.

Tackling Gambling Stigma (TGS) is an online contact-based stigma reduction intervention model that has been designed to fill this gap. Launched in September 2022, the website systematically documents collections of lived experience stories to reduce stigma, support recovery, educate audiences about the realities of gambling harm, and advocate for an improved gambling landscape that is powered by lived experience.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with over 50 individuals with lived experience of gambling harm. Several key themes were identified which include the nature of gambling difficulties, the role of the gambling environment, experiences of stigma and discrimination, the wide range of harms experienced by individuals, others, and society, and the changes that are needed to prevent gambling harm and improve the lives of those experiencing gambling difficulties.

Implications

TGS has developed an open-source platform to mobilise lived experience perspectives, educate audiences, and advocate for improvements to practices and regulations to reduce and prevent gambling harm. The presentation shares this model and provides insights into the unique dynamics of gambling harm, stigma, and discrimination from those with lived experience.

Keywords

Stigma, Stigma reduction, Discrimination, Gambling harm, Lived Experience

Author Bios

Alexander Kallman

Alexander the manager director at TGS. With over a decade of experience in policy and strategy, his focus is on driving projects and creating mutually beneficial partnerships with key stakeholders. He takes pride in enabling the team and organisation to create the change it wants to see.

Clare Wyllie

Clare is the research director at TGS. She specialises in ethnographic and participatory action research. She has also worked in strategy and policy, intervention design and evaluation and communications. She uses this experience to make sure research is useful for action. She has a BA in Psychology, Masters in Genders Studies and Masters in Research Methods, from the LSE.

Elizabeth Killick

Elizabeth Killick is a qualitative researcher at TGS. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Nottingham Trent University and an MSc in Health Psychology from the University of Leeds. Her quantitative and qualitative PhD research focused on the impact of in-play betting and sports betting advertising.

Funding Sources

Tackling Gambling Stigma is funded through grant funding from the philanthropist Derek Webb. He has no involvement in any aspects of our work.

Competing Interests

Clare Wyllie and Alexander Kallman have previously worked for GambleAware. They have also provided evidence and expertise for the Clean Up Gambling Campaign for regulatory reform and the Campaign Against Gambling Advertising. Elizabeth Killick has no competing interests.