Measurement of gambling-related harm should largely shift towards online surveying rather than face-to-face interviews due to cost and sample size issues. This recommendation comes from a study conducted by Professor Patrick Sturgis and Professor Jouni Kuha from the London School of Economics. The study, commissioned by GambleAware, aimed to examine how methodological differences between surveys impact the accuracy of gambling harm estimates.
The research was undertaken as a response to a 2019 YouGov study, which revealed higher rates of gambling harms in Great Britain compared to the 2016 and 2018 Health Surveys for England. The charity expressed concerns over the true level of problem gambling in Britain due to this discrepancy. The YouGov study solely relied on online surveys, while the earlier projects involved face-to-face interviews. Similarly, both Yonder and YouGov’s online-only surveys reported higher problem gambling rates.
The researchers identified selection bias as the primary cause of this inconsistency in results. Online surveys tend to attract individuals who are comfortable using digital technologies and regularly access the internet. Such individuals are more likely to be frequent gamblers, leading to an overestimation of gambling harm in online-only surveys. Despite this finding, the researchers still consider online methods the most effective for future research. However, they recommend combining online surveys with a program of methodological testing and development to reduce selection bias.
The researchers highlighted the rising cost of in-person surveys, making online surveying a more economical option. This affordability allows for more research and broader studies to better comprehend the levels of problem gambling. Nonetheless, the researchers suggest that in-person surveys should not be completely eliminated. They propose using probability sampling and face-to-face interviewing at periodic intervals to serve as benchmarks. Professor Sturgis emphasized the importance of this approach, stating that online surveys tend to exaggerate the prevalence of gambling harm compared to face-to-face interviews.
GambleAware’s Director of Research, Information, and Knowledge, Alison Clare, emphasized the significance of having reliable survey data to inform prevention, treatment, and support initiatives. She acknowledged the constraints of data collection in an increasingly online world and highlighted the importance of GambleAware’s GB Treatment & Support survey in gathering information on the demand for gambling harm support and treatment.
The most recent edition of GambleAware’s GB Treatment & Support survey, conducted by YouGov and published in March, indicated an increase in the percentage of problem gamblers seeking treatment. In the past 12 months, 63% of problem gamblers reported using some form of treatment, advice, or support, compared to 54% in November 2019.
