Guidance
The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board’s advice on the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms 2019–2022
The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board’s advice on the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms 2019–2022
Recommended prevention activities
We recommend that the new strategy focuses prevention activities around the framework shown in levels of prevention activity, drawing on the suggestions made for each level of prevention in the following paragraphs.
Limited evidence should not be used a reason for inaction. It should not be necessary for the Gambling Commission to have to prove beyond doubt that a certain practice is harmful or exploitative22 before action is taken. The precautionary principle should be applied where there is good reason to believe that significant harm may be being caused. In other areas of health the decision to act is frequently informed by the precautionary principle and the need to take preventive action despite inevitable uncertainties.23
Levels of prevention activity
Indicated
Actions that target and affect high risk individuals.
Selective
Actions that target and affect high risk groups.
Universal
Actions that target and affect the whole population.
References
22 Despite being enshrined in the 2005 Act, the concept of ‘exploitation’ is applied far less often in regulatory decision-making than that of ‘preventing harm’. It does, however, provide a useful yardstick against which to assess some industry practices
23 Identifying the environmental causes of disease: how should be decide what to believe and when to take action?Academy of Medical Science, 2007
Prevention Next section
Indicated prevention activities
Last updated: 8 September 2021
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