GambleAware calls for better health warnings on gambling adverts
A survey of over 7,000 people found current safer gambling messages are not as effective as they should be.
After conducting a survey, GambleAware has called for health warnings on gambling adverts to better highlight the harms linked with gambling.
The research was carried out based on a survey of over 7,000 people involving researchers and academics, which has called into question the effectiveness of the slogan ‘Take Time To Think’.
Based on the report, GambleAware has called for enhanced evidence-based health warnings on gambling adverts.
Three new health messages, namely ‘Gambling can be addictive’, ‘Gambling comes at a cost’ and ‘Gambling can grip anyone’ were viewed in the study as more impactful.
Findings also concluded that a clear and separate GambleAware health warning at the end of a 30-second gambling advert was more than twice as effective than ‘Take Time to Think’ at showing people where to get support.
GambleAware Chief Communications Officer Alexia Clifford said: “Gambling harms are a serious public health issue and it is vital that people are aware of the risks associated. Today’s landmark study underscores the need to replace the industry-led slogan ‘Take Time To Think’ with more compelling health warnings.
“We’re also concerned about operators’ misuse of the GambleAware logo and the lack of clear signposting to support channels. We urge industry to take heed of the growing body of evidence highlighting the need for better safeguards and restrictions.”
Dr Raffaello Rossi, a lecturer in marketing at Bristol University and co-author of the research, added: “In the absence of strict gambling marketing restrictions, it is absolutely vital that we see warnings on gambling advertising that highlight the addictive nature of gambling, paired with clear, unambiguous signposting for people to access support if needed. We need to see better regulation of gambling operators who are widely bombarding us with their ads.”
Last month, GambleAware reported that more than 100,000 people had used its self-assessment tool in its first year of availability.
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