This guide aims to reduce stigma by giving examples of language to avoid when talking about gambling harms. The UK charity GambleAware provides 12 key aspects of language to consider when discussing gambling harms, such as:
- using person-first language
- emphasizing underlying drivers of harm
- avoiding paternalistic language
The guide is intended for anyone who works in the gambling sector, including gambling companies, government, health bodies, researchers, and support or education professionals. It is the result of an analysis by a cultural insight agency specialising in language analysis and further refined by GambleAware, a peer-reviewer, and those with lived experience.