Evaluation of the Gambling Act Review: Diary Studies

We are carrying out an independent evaluation of the Gambling Act Review and the implementation and impact of changes to gambling-related policies.

Why is this research being carried out? 

NatCen has been commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission (GC) to conduct an evaluation of the Gambling Act Review 2005 (referred to as The Gambling Act Review or GAR). The GAR proposed changes to gambling-related policies, including some which specifically impact people aged 18 to 24. The evaluation of the GAR is aiming to understand how these policy changes are being implemented, whether they are being delivered effectively, if they are achieving their intended outcomes, and the impact they have.

As part of the evaluation, NatCen are conducting diary studies with young people aged 18 to 24 who have experience of gambling. We want to understand how young people experience the policy changes which impact them.

What are diary studies? 

Diary studies are a way to collect data about a topic or experience from individuals’ perspectives by asking people to complete diary entries and provide written responses to questions. Diary studies are a creative research method that gives participants (such as yourself) increased control and privacy, and increased choice over your responses and how you share your thoughts. 

Who is taking part?

We are recruiting people to take part in the diary studies who are aged between 18 to 24 years old and who have experience of gambling. We would like to recruit people who have experiences with a range of methods of gambling, such as playing the lottery, scratch cards, bingo, casino games, sports betting, and any other kind of gambling.

What does taking part involve?

Taking part would involve completing diary entries, guided by your experiences of gambling. These will be completed via email. You will be asked to respond to a set of questions over a period of three weeks at three different times in 2025, which will take approximately 10 hours of your time overall. This will include around 2-3 hours for each set of questions, and you can do this at a time which suits you during the three-week period. You do not have to answer all the questions in one go.

We would also like to speak to you before you take part to discuss the research and understand if you are eligible to take part, and at end of the diary studies to gather some feedback from you.

Why should I take part?

Sharing your experiences of gambling-related policies and gambling in general will help NatCen, DCMS, and GC to better understand how the changes to policies have been implemented, what the outcomes have been, and what impact they have had. To acknowledge the time that it will take to participate in the diary studies, you will receive a £50 Love2Shop voucher for each set of diary questions that you answer, which is a total of £150 overall.

Do I have to take part?

Participation in the research is completely voluntary; you do not have to take part if you do not want to. You are free to change your mind at any point before and during the diary studies and you can edit or withdraw your answers until we start analysis. During participation in the diary studies, you are also free not to answer any questions you would prefer not to answer. You can find out more about this from our privacy notice.

Is this research confidential? 

All the answers that you provide will be confidential and treated with the strictest confidence in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Legislation (GDPR). We will not inform anyone that you have taken part. The only exception to this confidentiality is if we become aware of any safeguarding issue which would require us to involve other people. You can read more about this via our privacy notice and disclosure policy.

What will happen to the information I give?

We will use information collected from this research to write a report for DCMS and GC. The information you provide will be treated confidentially and used only for the purpose of the research described above. We will make sure that nobody is able to identify you from your answers and what is included in the report.

How do I take part?

If you would like to take part, or if you have questions about the diary studies, please contact us using the following contact details by the 28th of February:

Email: GARdiarystudies@natcen.ac.uk 

Telephone: 020 7549 7150

Support

For some people, discussing or thinking about their experiences may be upsetting or distressing. We want to ensure that you have the contact details of organisations who you can talk to and who can help you. 

Support with gambling

National Gambling Helpline – confidential advice, support, and information on problem gambling.

National Problem Gambling Clinic – to ask about being referred to the clinic you can contact them on:

GamCare – free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling; phone, live chat; group chat and forum to contact others in similar situations and to find support.

Financial Support

Citizens Advice – advice on debt, benefits, employment, housing, discrimination

The Trussell Trust – nationwide network of food banks providing emergency food and support

Universal Credit (UC) helpline – advice on Universal Credit

Shelter – free information, support and advice to people facing homelessness or experiencing housing issues

Personal and emotional support

Samaritans – free and confidential emotional support if you need to talk.

Mind – a mental health charity with a wealth of information on mental health conditions and services 

SupportLine – confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults

Papyrus – free and confidential support for young people under 35 experience thoughts of suicide.