New ideas in harm minimization for the gambling industry

The past week Jakob Jonsson spoke at the Alberta Gambling Research Institute Conference 2022. In his keynote presentation Jakob shared some of his experiences working with harm minimization, duty of care and responsible gambling. It covered topics such as registered play, self-assessment, contacting at-risk players and mandatory setting of limits.

Study Overview and Methodology

The study, titled "In search of lower risk gambling levels using behavioral data from a gambling monopolist," focused on 35,753 customers of Norsk Tipping who completed the GamTest self-assessment between April 2019 and April 2020.

The research aimed to establish low-risk thresholds for gambling using behavioral data and self-reported harms.

Key Findings

Gambling Frequency and Harm

The study found a high proportion of harm reported even at low gambling frequencies.

The optimal monthly limit suggested was less than 8.7 days, with the risk of harm increasing linearly beyond this point.

Expenditure Limits

Expenditure was another critical indicator. The suggested optimal cut-off was around 54 Euros per month, approximately 1% of the median household gross income in Norway.

This limit indicates the point beyond which gambling expenditure starts correlating with increased harm.

Duration of Gambling Sessions

For gambling duration, the risk of harm showed a linear increase from just above one hour of play, with the optimal cut-off for minimal harm suggested at 72–83 minutes.

Diversity of Gambling Formats

Playing more than two types of gambling formats was associated with increased harm, suggesting that a diversity of gambling involvement could lead to higher risks.

Wager Size

The study also considered wager sizes, recommending that wagers should be kept below 118–140 Euros to minimize harm.

Implications for the Gambling Industry

The study's findings indicate that harm can occur at all levels of gambling involvement, with a significant number of gamblers experiencing harm even below these low-risk limits.

This suggests the need for a more nuanced approach to harm minimization, considering individual differences in gambling behaviors and susceptibilities.

Demographic Insights

Younger gamblers, particularly those aged 18–25, showed different patterns of risk and harm, indicating the need for age-specific harm minimization strategies.

The study suggests that younger individuals may be more vulnerable and thus require lower thresholds for safer gambling.

Conclusion

The study by Norsk Tipping provides valuable insights into how gambling behavior correlates with harm, highlighting the importance of setting and adhering to low-risk gambling limits.

For the gambling industry, these findings underscore the need for responsible gambling strategies that are tailored to individual patterns