Qualitative research on journeys with adverse consequences from gambling

About the study

The Gambling Commission commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to conduct qualitative research with a subset of participants who completed the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) and indicated that they had experienced severe and/or adverse consequences from gambling in the previous 12 months. The research aimed to explore the experiences and journeys of individuals and provide deeper insights into varied experiences of adverse consequences from gambling, including the interrelations between different consequences (either positive or negative). The research builds on the existing survey data collected by NatCen and addresses gaps in the GSGB evidence base. The research questions were: 

1. What journeys lead people to experience adverse and/or severe gambling consequences.
2. What external factors influence and/or contribute to adverse and/or severe gambling consequences?
3. How are different adverse and/or severe gambling consequences connected in people’s lived experience?
4. What measures and practices have prevented adverse and/or severe consequences from occurring?

Findings

The research found that:

• Journeys with gambling consequences are complex and influenced by a wide range of external factors which include factors related to individuals (such as childhood experiences, employment, social networks and health), wider social and political factors (such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of living), and factors related to the gambling industry (such as the types of gambling offered and advertising);
• First experiences with gambling are often (but not always) positive, with adverse consequences often developing over time and some participants experiencing them more quickly than others. The research identified variation in participant’s first experiences with adverse consequences. Often financial consequences were experienced first which led to subsequent impacts on mental health or relationships;
• There are complex interactions between different adverse consequences as well as external factors. Participants described a range of ways that harms interrelated, including one consequence leading to another, consequences taking place simultaneously, and circular or reinforcing relationships between gambling consequences;
• Participants took varied approaches to reduce or prevent adverse consequences from gambling. This included personal budgeting techniques to reduce financial consequences, the use of apps or banks to block gambling participation and using deposit limit tools offered by gambling operators. Interviews also highlighted the importance of support networks for reducing negative consequences related to gambling.

Methodology

NatCen conducted 25 in-depth interviews with people who had completed the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). Participants were selected based on their survey responses to questions about their gambling participation. Selected participants had gambled in the last 12 months and experienced: 

• At least one severe consequence from their own gambling (responding ‘yes’ to one or more of the four items);
• At least two potential adverse consequences from their own gambling (responding ‘very often’ or ‘fairly often’ to two or more of the six items); or
• Had responded ‘occasionally’ to at least three of the potential adverse consequences from their own gambling, and who had a PGSI score of more than 3.  

Interviews were conducted in January, February and March 2025, lasted up to 60 minutes, and took place over the phone or online (MS Teams).   

During the interviews, researchers created a timeline as a visual tool to support the understanding of the participants’ journeys with gambling. The timelines portrayed a chronological account of gambling consequences, relationships between gambling consequences, and other relevant life events or broader factors.  

The Commission’s Lived Experience Advisory Panel informed the development of materials and methods used for this research. The panel reviewed and provided feedback on the interview topic guide, the participant information sheet and the aftercare leaflet. They also supported in piloting the timeline approach which was taken to explore participant’s journeys with gambling.