About us
Established in 2022, we are a world-leading hub for interdisciplinary gambling harms research that brings together academics from 27 disciplines across 9 countries.
20% of the UK population is currently being harmed – either directly or indirectly – by gambling, and up to 496 suicides are linked to gambling every year in England alone. A recent report estimated the economic costs associated with gambling harm to be £1.77 billion.
In July 2022, Bristol was awarded £4 million in funding by national charity GambleAware to set up the innovative Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms Research. GambleAware is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, and the Scottish Charity Regulator.
We bring together international academics from across 27 disciplines across 3 continents to tackle gambling harms, working with people with lived experience and partner organisations to deliver cutting-edge gambling harms research.
Our mission:
- Raise awareness of gambling harms among individuals, communities and organisations.
- Strengthen consumer protection against gambling harms in physical and online environments.
- Enhance support and treatment reflecting the complex and interconnected nature of gambling harms.
The research we conduct
We investigate issues ranging from the links between poverty and problem gambling to the risks and opportunities posed by emerging technologies such as AI, and the protection against gambling harms for vulnerable groups, including children and young people.
The Hub is overseen by a Governance Board made up exclusively of senior University of Bristol academics and chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. Governance procedures and due diligence provide safeguards to ensure the Hub’s independence.
Neither GambleAware nor the gambling industry have any influence over the activities of the Hub. GambleAware’s Director of Evidence and Insights is a member of the Hub’s External Advisory Board, which meets annually and has no decision-making powers.