Gambling Harm Treatment and Support in Scotland: Current provisions and future directions

Footnotes

1 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

2 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

3 Wardle H, Degenhardt L, Marionneau V, Reith G, Livingstone C, Sparrow M, et al. The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling. Lancet Public Health [Internet]. 2024 Oct;6(1):e2–3.

4 Scottish Government, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025-2035. Edinburgh; 2025.

5 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

6 Wardle H, Degenhardt L, Marionneau V, Reith G, Livingstone C, Sparrow M, et al. The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling. Lancet Public Health [Internet]. 2024 Oct;6(1):e2–3.

7 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

8 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

9 Since the original mapping was conducted an additional two organisations have been identified. One provided a written summary of their activity. However, due project timeline, we were unable to include this organisation in the survey or in-depth interview.

10 Ritchie J, Spencer L. Qualitative Data Analysis for Applied Policy Research. In: Huberman AM, Miles MB, editors. The Qualitative Researcher’s Companions Companion. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 2011. p. 3–30.

11 Wardle H, Degenhardt L, Marionneau V, Reith G, Livingstone C, Sparrow M, et al. The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling. Lancet Public Health [Internet]. 2024 Oct;6(1):e2–3.

12 NICE. Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management. NICE guideline [Internet]. London; 2025.

13 NICE. Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management [E] Pharmacological treatment of harmful gambling. NICE guideline NG248 Evidence review underpinning recommendations 1.5.16 to 1.5.19 and recommendations for research in the NICE guideline. London; 2025.

14 NICE. Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management [F] Psychological and psychosocial treatment of harmful gambling. NICE guideline NG248 Evidence review underpinning recommendations 1.5.12 to 1.5.15 and recommendations for research in the. London; 2025.

15 NICE. Gambling-related harms: Identification, assessment and management. [K] Improving gambling treatment services. NICE guideline NG24. Evidence review underpinning recommendations 1.5.1 to 1.5.11 and a recommendation for research in the NICE guideline. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2025.

16 Ukhova D, Marionneau V, Batchelor S, Bunn C, McIntosh E, O’Connor R, et al. Global Gambling Control Scorecard (GGCS): Dataset. Version 1: November 2025 [Internet]. Glasgow: University of Glasgow; 2025.

17 Motivational Interviewing (MI) is ‘a person-centred counselling approach used to address difficulties in changing unhelpful behaviours (e.g., substance use disorder). MI is founded on the principles of motivational psychology, and it applies motivational strategies to elicit the patient’s intrinsic resource for change.’

18 Clune S, Ratnaike D, White V, Donaldson A, Randle E, O’Halloran P, et al. What is known about population level programs designed to address gambling-related harm: rapid review of the evidence. Harm Reduct J [Internet]. 2024;21(1):1–74.

19 Rodda SN, Merkouris SS, Dowling NA. Current approaches to the identification and management of gambling disorder: a narrative review to inform clinical practice in Australia and New Zealand. Med J Aust. 2024;221(9):495–500.

20 Leurent M, Ducasse D, Courtet P, Olié E. Efficacy of 12‑step mutual‑help groups other than Alcoholics Anonymous: a systematic review and meta‑analysis. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci [Internet]. 2024;274(2):375–422.

21 Kozina L, Petrović ZK. Problem Gambling Prevention for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults: A Narrative Literature Review. Arch Psychiatry Res. 2026;62:41–58.

22 van Schalkwyk MCI, Hawkins B, Petticrew M, Maani N, Garde A, Reeves A, et al. Agnogenic practices and corporate political strategy: the legitimation of UK gambling industry-funded youth education programmes. Health Promot Int [Internet]. 2024 Feb 1;39(1):1–12.

23 Cardoso LG, Barroso BC, Piccoli G, Peixoto M, Rocha C, Griffiths MD, et al. Deep technologies and safer gambling: A systematic review. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2026;262(December 2025):106140.

24 BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy; UKCP - UK Council for Psychotherapy; COSCA - Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland

25 Smith EH, Free BAL, Ginley MK, Whelan JP, Pfund RA. Personalized Feedback Interventions for Indicated Prevention of Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Gambl Stud. 2025;41:1563–81.

26 Department of Health. Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers (MoCAM). London; 2006.

27 National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse. Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006. London; 2006.

28 Orford J, Cousins J, Smith N, Bowden-Jones H. Stress, strain, coping and social support for affected family members attending the National Problem Gambling Clinic, London. Int Gambl Stud [Internet]. 2017;17(2):259–75.

29 Public Health Scotland. Healthcare Needs Assessment of Gambling Harm in Scotland. Edinburgh; 2025.

30 NICE. Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management. NICE guideline [Internet]. London; 2025.

31 Matthew J, Miligan B, Love D, Morrison C, Taylor M. Tackling digital exclusion. Edinburgh; 2024.