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A new analysis published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has revealed that the UK gambling industry is employing tactics reminiscent of Big Tobacco to downplay the harms associated with gambling and to influence public policy, including efforts to evade stricter regulation.
A team of experts from the University of Bath, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and the Universities of Cambridge, Goldsmiths, and Edinburgh compared the public relations strategies of the gambling and tobacco industries. They found striking similarities in how both industries emphasize the benefits of their products, minimize the associated harms, and present themselves as socially responsible businesses.
Calls for Urgent Action
The study’s authors urge policymakers to take immediate action to protect public health. Dr. May van Schalkwyk, lead author and researcher at LSHTM, emphasized the industry’s role in perpetuating harm. “Until the gambling industry is recognized as a corporate vector of harm and effective measures are taken to restrict both its influence and its marketing, prevention of gambling harm will remain unachievable,” she stated.
Professor Anna Gilmore, Principal Investigator of the Local Health Global Profits (LHGP) project, drew direct comparisons to Big Tobacco. “For decades, tobacco companies denied the health risks of smoking, cast doubt on scientific research and on the clear evidence of harm, and lobbied against regulations that threatened their profits. The gambling industry follows the same playbook.”
A Growing Public Health Concern
The study highlights that weak regulation in the UK has led to serious consequences, including financial distress, family breakdowns, and even suicide. The failure to learn from the deceptive strategies of Big Tobacco has allowed the gambling sector to grow into a multibillion-pound industry despite the severe harm it causes. Without stricter policies, the researchers warn, the industry will continue to mislead the public and obstruct regulatory oversight.
The authors draw particular attention to a parallel between the tobacco industry’s infamous 1954 “Frank Statement,” where tobacco executives falsely denied the link between smoking and disease, and a 2014 public statement by the gambling industry that downplayed the harms associated with betting.
Dr. Benjamin Hawkins of the University of Cambridge, a co-author of the study, stressed the importance of learning from past regulatory failures. “The gambling industry’s political strategies are alarmingly similar to those used by Big Tobacco. Learning from past mistakes is crucial to preventing further harm.”
Recommendations for Reform
The study calls for a series of urgent measures, including:
- Stronger regulations to limit gambling industry influence over policymaking and research.
- Stricter advertising controls, akin to the restrictions imposed on tobacco marketing.
- Recognition of the gambling industry as a harmful sector in urgent need of effective regulation.
Source and Citation
The full study, Learning from Tobacco Control to Tackle Gambling Industry Harms, was published in BMJ (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-082866.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on findings from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) study and the views expressed by the researchers. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.
