The experiences of people who gamble at high risk with a motivational telephone intervention to encourage safer gambling

View Open Access Article View Snapshot Back to Search Results

snapshot summaries

Author(s): Håkansson, Anders ; Franklin, Katja ; Dahlström, Maria ; Lyckberg, Axel

Journal: Frontiers in Psychology

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: February 21, 2023

AB Svenska Spel is a Swedish gambling operator that has implemented a motivational phone intervention for people who gamble at high risk. This study examined people’s experiences with the intervention. At 10 days after the intervention, participants answered a survey about their thoughts on the phone call and changes to their gambling habits. The researchers found that most participants (80%) reported feeling positive about the intervention. Around 37% of participants reported a decrease in their gambling due to the intervention. This study could encourage gambling operators to implement similar motivational interventions to encourage safer gambling among people who gamble at high risk.

Citation: Håkansson, A., Franklin, K., Dahlström, M., & Lyckberg, A. (2022). Responsible gambling through a motivational telephone intervention to high-risk gamblers – An evaluation of user satisfaction and subjective intervention effects. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 917216. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917216

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.917216

Keywords: gambling disorder ; Motivational Interviewing (MI) ; online gambling ; problem gambling ; responsible gambling

Topics: Gambling Resources ; Information for Operators ; Online Gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Study Design: Descriptive: Survey

Geographic Coverage: Sweden

Study Population: People who gambled with Svenska Spel’s Sport and Casino subsection and who had undergone a motivational intervention provided by Svenska Spel (n = 197).

Sampling Procedure: Data were obtained from March 23, 2021, through October 1, 2021. Participants were selected because they had undergone a motivational intervention provided by Svenska Spel to people at high risk of gambling problems, and invitations were sent out to participate in the survey 10 days after the intervention.

Study Funding:

This study is funded by the first author’s research funding from AB Svenska Spel and the regional health care system, as well as direct resources from AB Svenska Spel.