In this article, the author argues that efforts to prevent gambling-related harms should shift from focusing mostly on individual responsibility (“i-frame” approaches) towards a greater use of systemic or structural solutions (“s-frame” approaches). Lower-level gambling harms affect many people who do not meet the criteria for problem gambling, and most current prevention efforts rely on people to make informed decisions and exert self-control. Drawing on the i-frame/s-frame framework, the author argues that systemic reforms (e.g., restrictions on availability, design, and marketing of gambling products) are often better positioned to reduce gambling-related harms, as they do not depend on individual engagement and self-control. The author suggests that while i-frame interventions remain valuable, more attention and resources should be paid towards understanding, implementing, and evaluating systemic approaches that make gambling environments safer by design.
