GamCare calls for cross-industry collaboration to tackle gambling-related harm
Charity publishes a set of recommendations relating to reducing gambling-related debt and suggests greater interconnectivity of industries could help efforts
GamCare has called for more inter-industry partnerships to help reduce gambling-related harm.
The call emerged from GamCare’s most recent workshop on reducing gambling-related harm, which looked at how different sectors can help the reduce group’s clients’ gambling debts.
There were over 60 attendees from several different industries, including expert speakers from the Citizens Advice Bureau and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as those with lived experience of gambling-related debt.
The support group said these kinds of workshops are needed as “acute financial pressures are translating into increasing risks for those struggling to control their gambling and levels of debt”.
During the workshop, attendees discussed how support should meet the unique needs of GamCare’s clients. It was agreed that this kind of support should include information about money and debt management for gamblers, those affected by gambling, and those with lived experience.
It was also discussed that operators and those from other sectors like banking should share data, insights and reporting that can help improve support for people experiencing gambling-related debt.
There was also a recommendation that all of those involved should use lived experience stories to help break the stigma and shame around the subject.
GamCare also suggested that sectors should work together to develop a toolkit which would support customer support teams to engage in sensitive conversations with those affected by gambling-related harm.
As part of their findings, GamCare said: “Following our series of workshops, we have developed a good understanding of the best practices to tackle gambling-related debts and the changes that need to be made across sectors to support those affected.
“We look forward to working in partnership with colleagues across the debt advice, credit and gambling support sectors to bring our recommendations into action.”