Identifying effective policy interventions to prevent gambling-related harm

The purposes of this project were (i) the identification of gaps in the evidence concerning gambling harm prevention and minimisation policies; and (ii) identification of strategies, policies and interventions likely to prevent or minimise harm associated with gambling. In order to achieve these purposes, three research questions were developed, as follows: RQ1. What are the most effective evidence-based policies and initiatives to reduce harm associated with gambling, what are the gaps, and what should be the priorities? RQ2. What have been the most effective policy drivers for change in areas such as alcohol, tobacco, physical activity and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and how might they be replicated in gambling? RQ3. What effective policies used or proposed in other areas of public health could be translated to gambling? RQ1 was addressed by undertaking a comprehensive review of existing harm prevention and minimisation interventions and policies, in order to achieve an understanding of the state of evidence in the field. RQ2 was addressed by commissioning a narrative review for four areas of public health activity from four groups of academic experts in the relevant fields. The fields chosen for this were: alcohol policy, tobacco control, obesity, overweight and physical activity, and blood borne viruses. RQ3 was addressed by establishing a topical array drawn from both RQ1 and RQ2 and populating that with relevant themes, initially identified as opportunities and relevant issues for each review. RQ3 identifies these key themes and provides a series of recommendations derived from this discussion and categorised thematically.