Experience of the Nationwide Gambling Self-exclusion Service Spelpaus - Effects and Limitations of a Unique Harm Reduction Instrument for Problem Gambling

Region Skane

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Gambling Disorder; Problem Gambling

Treatments: Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus')

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05693155

Spelpaus study

Details and patient eligibility

About

Qualitative interview study addressing the effects and limitations of a unique, government-based, nationwide self-exclusion service for the reduction of gambling-related harm. This service, which allows for individuals at risk of gambling problems (and for anyone) to self-exclude from all licensed gambling in the country, is unique in its nationwide, non-gambling-operator-dependent and multi-operator design. It is a promising tool for the prevention and harm reduction in relation to problem gambling and gambling disorder, but emerging research data report considerable limitations including high access to non-licensed gambling allowing users to breach the voluntary self-exclusion and relapse into hazardous gambling practices. This study will examine effects and limitations of the system, for gamblers and for concerned significant others of gamblers, through qualitative interviews addressing their experience of the system.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patient at a gambling disorder unit or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a person with a gambling problem, and/or concerned significant other of a patient at a gambling disorder unit or self-recruited through social media advertising and defining as a concerned significant other of a person with a gambling problem.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to provide informed study consent and to carry out a qualitative research interview, due to language difficulties and/or cognitive problems.

Trial design

20 participants in 2 patient groups

Individuals with a gambling problem

Description:

Recruited from a gambling disorder treatment unit and/or from social media advertising addressing individuals with a gambling problem.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus')

Concerned significant others

Description:

Recruited as concerned signifiant others of patients at a gambling disorder treatment unit and/or in social media advertising addressing concerned significant others of individuals with a gambling problem.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling ('Spelpaus')