Public stigma towards Armed Forces personnel experiencing gambling-related harm

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Author(s): Smith, Jessica ; Dymond, Simon ; Torrance, Jamie

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2025

Date Added: March 18, 2026

Gambling-related harm among Armed Forces (AF) personnel is a growing concern. Stigma is a significant barrier to seeking help for gambling-related harm. Thus, understanding public perceptions of gambling-related harm among AF personnel is crucial. The researchers recruited 386 adults living in the UK for an online experiment. Participants were presented with one of four vignettes. The vignettes featured either an AF service member or a civilian experiencing gambling-related harm or gambling without experiencing harm. Participants perceived an AF service member experiencing gambling-related harm as more dangerous than a non-AF civilian experiencing gambling-related harm. Empathy did not differ between the AF and non-AF vignettes. Regardless of military or civilian status, participants expressed higher stigma when the vignette described a person experiencing gambling-related harm. These results show that public stigma towards gambling-related harm is strong and shaped by military status.

Citation: Smith, J., Dymond, S., & Torrance, J. (2025). Public perceptions of gambling in the UK armed forces: Understanding stigma via a vignette experiment. Journal of Gambling Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10463-2

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-025-10463-2

Keywords: gambling harm ; military personnel ; stigma

Topics: Stigmatization

Conceptual Framework Factors: Social - Stigmatization ; Social Factors

Study Design: Experimental: RCT (randomized controlled trial)

Geographic Coverage: United Kingdom

Study Population: Adults aged 18 or older residing in the UK, excluding those reporting a direct affiliation with the Armed Forces (n = 386).

Sampling Procedure: Participants were recruited through Prolific and were compensated £0.75 to complete the study.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Centre for Military Gambling Research, which is funded by the Gambling Commission.