The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced that Gambling Research Exchange (GREO), an independent research dissemination specialist, will play a key new role that is aimed at supporting the regulator’s National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.
As revealed by the Commission, GREO is set to develop a programme of activity which will mainly back the two priority areas of the regulatory body’s new Strategy – prevention and education, and support and treatment. The programme in question is also set to focus on spreading research, international collaboration and applying research to the UKGC’s policy.
We are delighted to announce a new key role for GREO. They will be supporting the delivery of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms through their research expertise https://t.co/Muj6EsHWkj #reducinggamblingharms
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) July 4, 2019
The project’s funding will be derived from the Gambling Commission’s regulatory settlements.
According to the Commission’s Executive Director, Tim Miller, the new role of Gambling Research Exchange comes to perfectly illustrate the collaboration that the UKGC has been searching for. Mr Miller also explained that the insight, networks and expertise of gambling research and dissemination of GREO would be helpful to the Commission and its partners to make the process quicker over the upcoming three years.
Two Strategic Priorities Recognised in the Commission’s Latest National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harm
Earlier this year, the UKGC has unveiled its latest National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms as part of its efforts to tackle with spreading gambling addiction and gambling-related harm.
As previously reported by Casino Guardian, the new strategy of the major British gambling regulatory body has two strategic priorities in its work – education and prevention, and treatment and support. As revealed by the Commission at the time when it officially released its strategy, the local gambling industry clearly needs a clearer framework regarding education and prevention of gambling harm. According to the regulatory body, more information campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the possible negative consequences that could result from gambling.
The Commission has hoped that the deployment of a more coordinated way to educate local people about gambling-related harm could better prevent vulnerable people from being affected by such unwanted consequences.
We are looking forward to welcoming delegates from across the South East at our Gambling and Public Health event in Brighton today, hosted by our Local Authority Specialist, Rob Burkitt. #reducinggamblingharms pic.twitter.com/yy2k4WIQw1
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) June 19, 2019
The other major strategic priority included in the New National Strategy of the Commission, treatment and support, is pretty much related to the National Health Service (NHS) and its actions in terms of designing, assessing and delivering services for people who need support when gambling turns out to be harmful. The addictive gambling behaviour can often be overlooked, especially in cases when clinical staff are not trained to spot the symptoms of problem gambling and do not know how to intervene.
At the time when it rolled out its new strategy, the UKGC also revealed four vehicles through which it intends to enable its action. These four vehicles include regulation and oversight, research to inform action, evaluation and collaboration. Together, the four of them are expected to help the Commission better focus on the activities which are important so that the strategy deliver the regulatory body’s priorities.
- Author
Daniel Williams
