Cookies on the Gambling Commission website

The Gambling Commission website uses cookies to make the site work better for you. Some of these cookies are essential to how the site functions and others are optional. Optional cookies help us remember your settings, measure your use of the site and personalise how we communicate with you. Any data collected is anonymised and we do not set optional cookies unless you consent.

Set cookie preferences

You've accepted all cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Skip to main content

Consultation response

Changes to licence conditions and codes of practice on the use of credit cards for gambling

Consultation response January 2020

Evaluation framework

The Magenta Book explains that the evaluation of an intervention requires a framework within which the evaluation can be designed, data analysed, and results interpreted. The framework can be used to understand what existing evidence tells us and to identify gaps in the evidence base which the evaluation should focus on. Reviewing existing evidence relating to the broad evaluation questions is important to enable the objectives of any new evaluation research to be identified and refined.

The first element of our evaluation framework will therefore be a rapid evidence review of the existing literature around the use of credit cards and other forms of borrowing for gambling. The review will be conducted by GREO and will also aim to identify any gaps in the evidence base.

The rapid evidence review will explore:

  • any evidence of a link between use of credit cards and gambling-related harm
  • how the use of credit cards for gambling compares to the use of other forms of borrowing (such as payday loans) to fund gambling
  • why gamblers use credit cards to gamble
  • whether a ban or restriction on credit card use has been introduced in any other jurisdiction, and if so, what the outcome was
  • any evidence to suggest that a ban on credit cards could result in unintended consequences (such as gamblers switching to other forms of borrowing)
  • any gaps in the evidence base, and how should these be filled.

The second phase of the framework will be to develop a theory of change. Theory-based evaluation approaches provide an overarching framework for understanding and testing the assumed connections (i.e. the theory) between an intervention and the anticipated impacts. Theory of Change evaluation involves specifying an explicit theory of "how" and "why" a policy might cause an effect - which is then used to guide the evaluation.

The theory of change tries to understand the combination of factors that has led to the intended or unintended outcomes and impacts of the intervention. A Theory of Change approach therefore normally develops and then tests the implementation theory of the policy intervention and allows this theory to be modified or refined through the evaluation process. Quantitative and qualitative methods can be used to gather data to test the theory.

The third stage of our evaluation is therefore the evaluation fieldwork itself, using the theory of change as a guide. We intend to publish the outcomes of the evaluation as soon as they are available.

Previous section
Evaluation approach
Is this page useful?
Back to top