British gambling industry mimics big tobacco to play down damage, research finds

New analysis published in the BMJ reveals that the British gambling industry mimics the tactics used for the first time by large tobacco tens of years ago to trivialize the damage of gambling and influence policy, including to prevent stricter regulations.

The authors, a team of experts from the University of Bath, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and universities of Cambridge, Goldsmiths and Edinburgh, compared the rhetorical strategies of the two industries in public communication. They found common tactics, including playing the benefits of their products, reducing the damage and claiming to be socially responsible companies.

They ask for urgent action to protect public health.

Dr. May van Schalkwyk, the main author of the study and researcher at LSHTM, said: “Until the gambling industry is recognized as a company vector of damage and effective measures are taken to limit both the influence and marketing of it, prevention of gambling damage remains inaccessible. “

Professor Anna Gilmore, principal researcher Local Health Global profits (LHGP), said: “For decades, tobacco companies denied the health risks of smoking, doubts about scientific research and about the clear evidence of damage, and lobbying against regulations that threatened their profit.

The study emphasizes that ineffective gambling regulation in the UK has led to serious damage, including financial need, breakdown of the family and even suicide. The failure to learn from the misleading strategies of Big Tobacco has enabled the gambling industry to flourish in a billions of pound industry despite the damage it causes. Without a stronger policy, the authors claim, the industry will continue to mislead the public and block regulations and supervision.

In particular, the authors draw parallels between the notorious “Frank Statement” from 1954 of the tobacco industry in which bosses of tobacco company in a complete newspaper advertisement claimed that there was no connection between smoking and diseases, and the public statement of 2014 of the gambling industry that responds to Public concerns about gambling damage.

Dr. Benjamin Hawkins from the University of Cambridge, another co-author of the study, said: “The political strategies of the gambling industry are alarmingly similar to those of large tobacco. Learning from past errors is crucial to prevent further damage.”

The study requires urgent action, including:

• Stronger regulations to limit the influence of the gambling industry on policy and research.
• Stricter operating elements on gambling advertising, similar to TOCK restrictions.
• Recognition of the gambling industry as a harmful industry to urgently need effective regulations.