Gambling has now been included in the NIHR Addictions Policy Research Unit following recommendations made by researchers at the University of Glasgow – with £5.5m dedicated to investigating addictions.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Addictions Policy Research Unit will now include gambling addiction as a health issue and is looking to support research work that will help inform.

Over £100m has been awarded to 20 Policy Research Units (PRU) through the NIHR for tackling emerging health and social care issues including dementia, reproductive health and addiction.

Now, for the first time, funding will support gambling addiction – with £5.5m awarded to support the creation of a PRU investigating addictions.

The PRUs play a vital role in informing policy and advancing understanding for governments and other bodies when making decisions around health and social care.

Led by the University of Glasgow, the University of Sheffield and King’s College London, the addictions PRU is to bring in Professor Heather Wardle of Gambling Research Glasgow.

Gambling Research Glasgow is a collective of researchers based at the University of Glasgow with a common interest in the impacts of gambling – particularly focused on its impact on vulnerable people.

Its research includes a peer-led education programme to reduce gambling-related harms among students, investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling and group-based interventions to reduce gambling among football fans.

The group collaborates with the World Health Organisation, University of Edinburgh, University of Stirling and other research groups across the UK and internationally.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Suppport Service that forms part of the Citzens Advice Scotland network told healthandcare.scot that it is important to view gambling addiction as a health issue:

“Gambling can cause mental distress, relationship breakdown and life-changing financial issues. A staggering amount money can be put into this addiction with huge amounts spent in seconds which can have a massive knock-on affect to the gambler and their loved ones.

“The shame and stigma attached to a gambling addiction can make it difficult for those affected to get help and support which can make those affected feel helpless and alone.

“It is important to view gambling addiction as a health issue to reduce this shame and stigma and thus to ensure that those affected feel empowered to reach out for help and support.”

Professor Wardle and Gambling Research Glasgow colleague Professor Gerda Reith had recommended that  gambling be incorporated into a PRU because of the harms that it can cause  to health and wellbeing.

Professor Heather Wardle, says the decision by NIHR is important to supporting research into gambling harms:

“We're delighted that gambling has been included in the new Addictions Policy Research Unit, raising the profile and esteem of gambling research and policy in an unprecedented way.

“Working with a talented team of researchers, we'll be able to look at commonalities and differences across addictive behaviours and products to support effective policy development.”

Alongside already known gambling harms, Professors Reith and Wardle have highlighted the need to investigate the rapidly changing gambling technologies industry and its impact on health.

Citzens Advice Scotland’s Gambling Support Service spokesperson added that they welcome the news, which also provides the opportunity to utilise more up-to-date research in their work:

“The inclusion of gambling addiction in policy research will be very helpful for organisations working on prevention, support and treatment.

“Currently, there is not enough focus on researching gambling addiction and how many people are affected.

“The research would allow us to update training materials to reflect the reality of the situation in Scotland and reflect on how we give advice to those affected when they speak to one of our advisers to ensure the advice is effective and backed by research.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor, DHSC Chief Executive of NIHR, said these policy research units help NIHR ensure health and care research benefits reach patients and the public:

“The NIHR’s new Policy Research Units are designed to provide strong evaluation of policy. This helps government and related organisations to be able to act on the latest evidence when making decisions about health and social care that could impact us all.”

In terms of policy changes, the Gambling Support Service spokesperson said they would like to see tigether legislation around marketing as “relentless advertising” can have a huge impact on the recovery process.

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