The British Gambling Commission has released a report on an experimental survey conducted on gambling harm

The British Gambling Commission has provided an update on the progress of the second stage of its experimental survey on the prevalence of gambling harms. As part of its ongoing efforts to gather accurate statistics on problem gambling, the Commission has been testing a new approach to replace its traditional telephone surveys. The trial of the new survey, which is being led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), has reached its second stage, and the Commission has reported on its findings this week.

During the second stage of the project, NatCen conducted further tests to refine the methodology and content of the survey. Two specific experiments were conducted. The first experiment focused on household selection and the presentation of harms statements. NatCen altered the wording on invitation letters to explicitly state that responses from both gamblers and non-gamblers were of interest. Additionally, the experiment tested the outcomes of inviting two adults per household to participate, as opposed to four.

The second experiment was a split sample test aimed at identifying the optimal approach for the number of adults per household to be invited to participate in the survey. This experiment was designed to gather data on the most effective approach for obtaining accurate and reliable responses from participants.

The second stage of the project also built upon the British Gambling Commission’s efforts to develop a comprehensive understanding of the occurrence and nature of gambling harms. NatCen conducted tests to compare the effectiveness of a yes/no response versus a four-point scale in capturing relevant data. Based on the findings, NatCen recommended that the four-point scale be maintained for the final methodology, while also suggesting that only two adults per household be invited to participate, instead of four.

In addition, NatCen conducted experiments to refine the presentation of gambling activities in the survey. This included testing an updated list of gambling activities, as well as different ways of presenting the list such as a long list, chunked list, and hierarchical list.

Furthermore, NatCen explored the use of a quick response (QR) code as a means of bypassing the need for manual data entry, thus streamlining the survey process. These recommendations and findings will contribute to the development of a robust and effective methodology for assessing gambling harms.

Based on its findings, NatCen recommended the use of the long-list approach and quick response (QR) codes as an alternative method of survey access for the new gambling harm survey project. These recommendations were made after a pilot conducted last year, and are aimed at ensuring the survey is robust and suitable for official statistics.

Currently, the project has entered its third test stage, which will continue until July. This stage is crucial in further refining the survey methodology to ensure its accuracy and reliability. The goal is to develop a comprehensive and effective approach to measuring gambling harms that meets the standards of official statistics.

Newest Survey Reveals Insights on Problem Gambling

The Gambling Commission recently released the results of its most recent traditional telephone survey in March, which indicated that problem gambling in Britain remained at a record low of 0.2% for the entire year of 2022. Furthermore, the results of the latest quarterly telephone survey showed a decrease in the problem gambling rate, dropping from 0.3% compared to the previous year.

The survey also revealed that the percentage of gamblers at low risk remained stable at 1.7% for the quarter ending on December 31. However, there was a notable increase in the percentage of gamblers at moderate risk, rising from 0.8% to 1.3%. This rise in moderate risk gambling is considered significant by the Gambling Commission, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and intervention to address potential gambling harms among this group.