Industry funding potentially compromising gambling addiction research, say experts

Too little research is being conducted into problem gambling - and what research there is, is often funded by the gambling industry rather than by independent means, say a team of experts. They argue in favour of a 1% statutory levy on the gambling industry that could be administered by one of the UK's main research funders. Gambling disorders are a serious problem in the UK yet remain low on the list of priorities in UK healthcare. There's a chronic lack of investment and only belated acknowledgment of the problem Barbara Sahakian Writing in The Lancet Psychiatry , a group of clinicians and scientists set out their priorities for tackling the pervasive problem of gambling addiction, or 'gambling disorder'. Gambling disorder is a recognised mental health condition, a form of addiction that can have a serious impact on the lives of individuals and their families. It can lead to financial, emotional, and relationship problems, including interpersonal violence, and in some cases, engagement in illicit activities to fund their addiction. Between four and nine people in 1,000 are estimated to experience problem gambling.