Ralph Ranalli’s Post

Is gambling becoming a public health concern? Online gambling can negatively impact population health in a number of ways. Putting financial losses aside, this habit can lead to domestic violence and suicidality. There are little regulatory guidelines in place to mitigate this impact after the Supreme Court struck down its ban back in 2018. If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction; its advisable to seek help from qualified professionals in order to prevent poor outcomes. #healthnews #health #medical #medicalnews #newblogpost #gambling #addiction.  https://lnkd.in/ePM99hMT

💷 The Cost of Gambling Harm 💷 ✍ When you look into Public Health England's research looking at the "public health harms associated with gambling and the economic and social burden", you can see why it is such an important reason for awareness to be raised at a population level as it has a direct impact on the taxpayer. 🤯 They concluded that gambling-related harms have considerable cost to the government and society, likely between £1.05 to 1.77 BILLION. ➡ Unemployment Benefits - £77m ➡ Imprisonment - £167m ➡ Homelessness - £49m ➡ Mental & Physical Health Harms - £1,475b 🗣 I've long advocated that the financial impacts of an individuals harm to gambling should not be vocalised in isolation, due to this being unhelpful when you need to take into account the wider impacts. With that being said, when we look at gambling harms on a broader societal level, the financial impacts need louder coverage. 📄 https://lnkd.in/eDKk3a8r #gambling #government #health #homelessness #mentalhealth #unemployment #publichealth

World Health Organization calls for increased action to prevent gambling harm 🚨❤️🩹 🙏 The WHO stressed the need for “population-wide interventions” to mitigate harm, such as putting an end to gambling advertising and promotions, writing that “aggressive promotion of gambling in popular and social media also increases gambling activity.” 💭 Other suggestions include universal registration systems requiring binding loss limits, restricting opening hours, and stricter regulation and enforcement. 🔍 Learn more in Mia Doyle’s latest Covers article: https://lnkd.in/e_Y5X2NM

GambleAware has released its Annual GB Treatment and Support Survey, conducted by YouGov, continuing its fieldwork research that has been ongoing since 2019. The 2023 survey introduces the first insights into the legacy impacts of gambling on respondents, which are considered crucial for identifying gaps in treatment support services. The research also provides insights into British households, where GambleAware has expressed concern that up to 1.65 million children are living in households where an adult is experiencing gambling problems. https://lnkd.in/dvMzSVqP

This Safer Gambling Week, we are reflecting on our experiences conducting research into gambling-related harms and the positive outcomes that support and preventative approaches can bring about for people at risk of these harms.   The rise in popularity of online and mobile gambling means it is now possible to gamble anywhere and anytime. This level of accessibility can increase the risks of gambling harms, particularly for young people who are especially susceptible to them. According to the Gambling Commission's Young People and Gambling 2024 report, 27% of 11 to 17 year olds in Britain had spent their own money on gambling in the 12 months prior to taking part in the survey. These behaviours can lead to some people experiencing issues with finances and debt and problems related to mental wellbeing.   Significant challenges exist around raising awareness, reducing stigma and preventing and addressing gambling harms, and our clients at Ygam and GamCare offer crucial support to help those experiencing these harms and to inform healthcare professionals, educators, money advice services and community leaders about how best to approach gambling-related issues.   Our impact evaluation report for GamCare demonstrated the importance of cross-sector work to address financial harm and debt that gambling often causes. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eVH2EfGQ   #SGWeek24

Employee Gambling: What is the issue? 💷 💳 I grew up in media companies, awash with alcohol / other drugs and whilst times may have changed somewhat, one thing that has always been ignored is gambling and its impact on personal wellbeing and employee performance. ⚠ 45% of companies found employees accessing online gambling & gaming apps / websites at work ⚠ 28% of working adults who gamble would prefer to keep the extent of their gambling ‘hidden’ from colleagues Back in early 2000's (when I was tracking the growth of internet penetration in the UK!) I worked with Chris Gawor. He is now running "Employee Gambling Harm Awareness & Prevention Training" so drop him a line if you know any organisations that are interested in raising awareness about the harms of gambling in the workplace. #wellbeing #mentalhealth #humanresources

As an aside to Public Health, Digital Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion what happened to Gambling Laws for Casino's !? How come gambling ended-up on-line and on your door step like, you know, more betting shops than Banks on your local high street ? Also bemused by the exponential number of Barbers swamping towns, sprouting-up everywhere, why ? Anyway, suppose another source of tax revenue for the government in addition to alcohol and cigarettes regardless effectively sustaining deprivation and poverty of the illiterate Have-nots socioeconomically excluded ...... https://lnkd.in/eYh286ip

We do have an opportunity to act quick and ensure that support is available for anyone experiencing the harm that can be caused through gambling. Holistic accountability is required and a continued raw honesty about what we are seeing and the impact being felt by people, family’s, communities and systems. I’ve worked within the sector for 18 months and the demand for support continues to increase as we come to terms with what the evidence has been telling us for a while. #HumanityFirst #MentalHealthMatters #PublicHealth https://lnkd.in/e9KvhSKK

Today, the line between the physical and virtual worlds is increasingly indistinct, leaving teenagers to face choices with profound consequences. Two seemingly unrelated behaviors—asking a stranger to buy alcohol and faking one’s age online to access adult content—highlight this reality. Though these actions appear different, they share a common thread: the allure of the forbidden and a willingness to take risks to obtain it. Adolescence is a time of curiosity, rebellion, and a thirst for experiences that challenge authority. For some, alcohol appeals because it is associated with social acceptance and fun. For others, the anonymity of the Internet fuels curiosity about adult content. Both scenarios, however, come with significant legal, emotional, and societal consequences. Underage drinking is illegal, as is providing alcohol to a minor, and can result in impaired judgment, health risks, and tragic accidents. Similarly, faking one’s age online violates terms of service, opens doors to legal liability, and can expose young minds to emotional harm, distorted perceptions of relationships, and even addiction. Despite these parallels, we often scrutinize the physical risks while overlooking the dangers lurking online. As parents, we diligently shield our children from tangible harm, but how are we addressing the less visible dangers of the digital world? This is where TrustElevate.com steps in. A leader in age verification, TrustElevate ensures accurate verification across all age groups and validates parental responsibility for children under 16. TrustElevate doesn’t rely on claimed relationships but confirms parental oversight by enabling verified parents to consent to data processing and purchases. With increasing regulations holding organizations accountable for their users—especially minors—verified age checks and parental oversight are no longer optional. Platforms implementing these safeguards protect themselves from legal risks while creating safer spaces for kids. A Safer Internet. Peace of Mind for Parents. Legal Compliance for Organizations. #verifiedrelationships #ageassurance #COPPA #GDPR #childsafety #onlinesafety

Businesses and governments must start investing in real digital solutions. Think of it as “digital protective equipment”—essential tools for navigating an increasingly digital world. #DPE If we’ve learned anything from the explosive growth of social media and online shopping, it’s this: the next big wave will always be driven by youth. But here’s the thing—young people know what they need, yet lack the power to create it themselves. That’s where innovation comes in. Digital tools like Yoti which proves who you are, and JNCTN which proves what you can do, aren’t just conveniences. They’re the building blocks of the digital age. They give individuals control over their identities and skills, unlocking a world of opportunities while streamlining security and efficiency for businesses. Sure, paper credentials won’t go down without a fight, but let’s be clear—they are going away. The only question is, who will lead the charge? Those who invest now will ride the wave of the future. It’s time to embrace digital solutions—not just for today’s convenience, but for tomorrow’s evolution. P.s. I’ve been beating this drum since 2016, and now the problems have grown too big to ignore. I may have been early, but I wasn’t wrong. To my industry: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) IBEW local 1245 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) - San Diego National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) - San Diego —- it’s time to step up. The tools to solve these issues exist—let’s stop waiting for a crisis to act and start leading the way forward.