Anonymity is essential in battling stigma and providing effective gambling harm support, according to a new report by BetBlocker.
Research into problem gambling has repeatedly shown that those facing issues often face stigma from others – especially women and people from ethnic minorities. GambleAware previously cited this stigma as one of the biggest barriers to getting help with problem gambling.
Nearly 85% of respondents to a survey commissioned by the gambling platform blocker highlighted anonymity as a ‘central feature’ of the service, with 30% citing fear of judgement and stigma.
As a result, BetBlocker highlighted not requiring an account or sharing personal details as removing friction in the gambling harm treatment journey.
The report stated: “These results suggest that privacy is not only a valued feature, but also a possible key facilitator of access. Being able to use BetBlocker anonymously, without creating an account and without providing personal data, appears to reduce barriers to entry and support people in seeking help immediately, particularly in a context where shame, stigma and concerns about exposure of personal information can make it harder to seek support.”
The report highlighted the specific importance of anonymity for women, who represented almost 30% of the 1,095 surveyed, citing that they often face greater stigma and are less likely to seek help.
Africa on the rise
Other insights underlined the rising popularity of gambling in Africa, where increased mobile penetration has spread online gaming.
According to the survey, the three countries with the highest number of responses were all from Africa. These were Kenya with 236 participants, South Africa with 187 and Nigeria with 101. Respondents from Ghana, Zambia and Uganda also contributed.
Overall, the most popular response as to why the sample used BetBlocker was to ‘help me stop gambling’ at 75%, with a further 14% using the service to reduce or control their gambling activity.
Others wanted to block gambling during specific times or support someone else.
