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Focus on high-risk gambling products to prevent gambling harm
Dutch people who wish to gamble should be able to do so in a safe and protected manner. An important principle of the new vision on games of chance is that the level of player protection should be based on the risk of gambling harm associated with a gambling product. It is essential to understand which product features pose additional risks and what this means for the risk potential of gambling products.In collaboration with Amsterdam UMC and the Trimbos Institute, Dialogic has conducted research on the risks of gambling harm associated with licensed gambling products in the Netherlands, resulting in a ranking of gambling products. The innovative aspect of this ranking is the focus on gambling harm (rather than gambling addiction) and the clustering of product features into cognitive mechanisms: product features can change rapidly, the underlying mechanisms do not. Additionally, we investigated the specific characteristics of online gambling products that lead to an increased risk of gambling harm. Lastly, we explored ways to inform citizens about the risks of various types of gambling products. This research was carried out on behalf of the WODC (Research and Documentation Centre).
The ranking based on risks of gambling harm demonstrates that online and land-based slot machines and casino games, as well as online sports betting, pose a high risk of individual and societal gambling harm, and explains why. The findings of the research provide a solid foundation for shaping risk-based policies further.
Want to learn more? Read the report or ask a question to Tessel Blom.