GambleAware publishes treatment and support survey data via CDRC

Collected via an annual survey carried out by YouGov, the data shows the reported demand for treatment and support for gambling harms, focusing on key demographic variables in relation to gambling activity. 

The survey also features information on triggers for high levels of gambling; the reported demand and uptake for treatment and support services; barriers and facilitators for different communities in accessing treatment and support; and intersecting health and social issues. 

Part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC’s) Big Data Programme, the CDRC is a source of consumer data. The CDRC works with a range of data owners to manage access to specific data sets through a secure online application process.  

GambleAware said the CDRC’s focus on providing insight into a diverse range of societal and economic challenges fits well with the type of research commissioned by the charity and others to tackle gambling-related challenges.

“GambleAware currently uses only a small proportion of this data in our Annual GB Treatment & Support report and GB maps showing gambling harms prevalence and treatment demand at ward level,” GambleAware interim research director Alison Clare said.

“There is so much more that researchers from a range of disciplines could do with it through secondary analysis and investigation. Longer term, we hope that the catalogue of data sets held by the CDRC in this field will grow, with others also making their data openly available to the wider field.”

CDRC centre technical manager Oliver O’Brien added: “As part of this new collaboration, the CDRC has made available the fully anonymised response data from the GambleAware Treatment and Support Survey. 

“The survey provides a unique look at a detailed examination of gambling participation, harms and support in Great Britain. Alongside access to the data, trusted researchers will also receive associated metadata which they can use towards their research project.”

The partnership comes after GambleAware last month announced the launch of a new £3m (€3.5m/$4.1m) training programme to increase the awareness and knowledge of gambling harms.