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NICE Recommends Healthcare Professionals Ask People About Gambling at Health Checks and GP Appointments

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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that general practitioners (GPs) in the UK to ask patients about their gambling habits during health checks and appointments.

The recommendation is included in the first clinical guideline on gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management.

“Gambling-related harms” is the term used to describe the negative impacts of gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and society. These harms affect people’s finances, relationships and health (particularly mental health).

The new guideline advises healthcare professionals and social service workers to ask about gambling in various situations. This includes appointments related to depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or potential addictions such as alcohol or drug dependence. These groups may be at higher risk of gambling-related harm. NICE recommends identifying these risks as early as possible.

People may also be at increased risk of gambling-related harm for several other reasons, including if they are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Taking medication that may affect impulse control, experiencing safeguarding issues or violence or a family history of gambling that harms could also increase a person’s level of risk.

People should be encouraged to assess the severity of their gambling-related harms by completing a questionnaire available on the NHS website. This is based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a standardised measure for at-risk behaviour. A score of 8 or above indicates that they should seek support and treatment from a specialist gambling treatment service, while those with lower scores may also benefit from available support.

Healthcare professionals and social care practitioners must recognise and take action to ensure that stigma, shame and fear of disclosure does not prevent people experiencing gambling-related harms from seeking and accessing support and treatment.

It recommends using a tailored approach to meet the needs of each person, which could include providing them with access to vocation-specific services, such as veterans’ groups, or that take account of their ethnic background and religion. Treatments for gambling-related harms should also be provided in separate locations from services for alcohol or substance dependence.

The guidance recommends healthcare professionals consider involving a partner, family member or other person close to the person experiencing gambling-related harms in their treatment, if that is what they both want.

Gambling related harm has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and the people close to them. The useful and usable guideline will help healthcare professionals and others to identify those needing help earlier and ensure they get the treatment and support they need.

National Clinical Director for Primary Care, Dr Claire Fuller, said: “We welcome NICE’s decision as gambling can have a massive impact on people’s lives and the lives of the people that care for them, and as healthcare professionals, we need the right tools to help tackle gambling-related harms.

“Over the past few years, the NHS has made significant progress in expanding treatment for gambling addiction with the rollout of 15 specialist clinics across the country. So, if you’re worried about your gambling, there is support available, and you can directly refer yourself to your local NHS gambling clinic.”

Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross said: “We welcome this guidance from NICE on identifying, assessing, and managing gambling-related harms, which will support those experiencing harmful gambling to get access to the right support.

“We know that clinical treatment is not necessarily right for everyone, but it is important that there is a full spectrum of support as we strengthen treatment options.

“The Government’s plans to introduce a statutory levy, which will generate £100 million each year, will provide the investment needed to further expand the support and treatment on offer for those in need.”

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (2023), which collects data from 20,000 respondents each year, reported that 2.5% of the survey population aged 18 years and older living in Great Britain participate in “problem gambling” (defined as a PGSI score of 8 or more), with an additional 12% of the survey population participating in gambling with an elevated risk of harm (PGSI score 1 to 7). Overall, 2.8% of participants who had gambled in the past 12 months reported experiencing at least one severe consequence, such as the breakdown of a relationship. Rates were higher among male participants and were also higher among younger adults (those aged 18 to 34) than older adults (those aged 55 and over).

NHS England has opened 15 gambling clinics across the country since 2019 – seven of which opened in 2024. These clinics are expected to see 3000 people a year. All specialist clinics are fully NHS-commissioned and funded.

As set out in government’s response to the consultation on the structure, distribution and governance of the statutory levy on gambling operators, published in November 2024, the new statutory levy will provide a significant increase in investment for support and treatment services for gambling-related harm.

The post NICE Recommends Healthcare Professionals Ask People About Gambling at Health Checks and GP Appointments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Betsson Becomes the Official Naming Partner and Main Sponsor of ARIS BC

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Betsson, one of the world’s leading sports betting and gaming operators, has announced the renewal and expansion of its partnership with ARIS Basketball Club for the 2025/26 season.

Under the new agreement, Betsson will continue as the Main Sponsor of the club while also becoming its Official Naming Partner. The Betsson brand will feature prominently on the front of the official team jersey, reflecting the elevated level of the partnership.

The collaboration, which established in 2023, has gone from strength to strength, built on a shared commitment to promoting basketball and engaging with the passionate ARIS fanbase. This expanded sponsorship reflects the mutual trust, respect and ambition between Betsson and one of Greece’s most historic clubs.

With the arrival of the team’s new investor and owner, Richard Xiao and the launch of an ambitious transformation plan, ARIS BC is entering a new era of growth and modernisation.

Agapitos Diakogiannis, CEO of ARIS BC, said: “Our partnership with Betsson, which is now further strengthened through its role as Main Sponsor and Naming Partner, stands as a strong vote of confidence in ARIS’ vision and momentum. Together, we are entering a new era with the ambition of restoring the club to where it truly belongs – at the top – building on our values, our history, and the unwavering passion of our supporters”.

Thanos Marinos, Managing Director of Betsson Greece, said: “Betsson proudly stands beside ARIS BC during this period of renewal and momentum. Our ambition is to support the club’s growth, enhance its visibility, and deepen the bond with its loyal supporters. ARIS is a legendary club with a unique identity and passionate fanbase, and we are excited to contribute to its journey forward.

“With more than 60 years of history and a presence in more than 24 markets worldwide, Betsson brings global expertise in sports and entertainment, fostering responsible, innovative, and meaningful partnerships that create value for communities and the game alike.”

The post Betsson Becomes the Official Naming Partner and Main Sponsor of ARIS BC appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Midnite recruit Southampton fans to form ‘Tifo Committee’ ahead of crunch derby with Portsmouth

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  • Southampton sponsors Midnite have launched the football league’s first Tifo Committee, working with fans to create throughout the season

  • Midnite’s Tifo Committee is comprised of Southampton supporter group members

  • Midnite tease brand new tifo ahead of Sunday’s South-coast derby at St Mary’s

  • The Committee was formed after Midnite’s tifo at the season opener against Wrexham AFC

Midnite – the fastest-growing UK sports betting and online casino operator and Official Training Kit partner of Southampton FC – has recruited a group of Saints fans to form a Tifo Committee ahead of this weekend’s South Coast derby against Portsmouth.

The Tifo Committee, which is the first of its kind within the league, will help Midnite deliver a series of iconic tifos throughout the season and add to the colour and atmosphere at Saints home games.

Composed of key members of various supporter groups associated with Southampton, Midnite have leant on the expertise of the people who know the football club better than anyone: the fans.

Members of the Tifo Committee include: Mike Smale (MatchDayVlogs), Alex Graham (TotalSaintsPodcast), Louise Burke (Southampton Fan Advisory Board) and Yasmin Wiseman (Southampton Fan Advisory Board).

Midnite were behind a new tifo unveiled against Wrexham on the opening day of the season and will unveil the new banner designed by the Tifo Committee before the derby against Portsmouth on Sunday.

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, said: “Tifos are a huge part of modern fan football culture, and we wanted to bring this to St Mary’s consistently throughout the season.

“To mark the opening day of the new season, we unveiled a tifo which paid homage to seven Saints legends and it was very well received by Saints fans. But we wanted to go bigger as the season progressed, while also leaning on the people who make the football club what it is – the fans.

“We have been collaborating with our Tifo Committee to hear what sort of designs will really captivate the fanbase, and we’re very excited to unveil our brand new tifo ahead of the Southampton vs Portsmouth fixture on Sunday.

“This is an iconic fixture in English football, and we wanted to bring the history of the fixture to life. We’re confident that the Saints fans will like what our Tifo Committee has come up with.

“We’re loving the start of our partnership with Southampton, and are dedicated to using our platform to bring fans closer to the action this season, with meaningful and impactful campaigns.”

Mike Smale, Founder of MatchDayVlogs, and member of the Midnite Tifo Committee, said:  “Being part of the Midnite Tifo committee has been a privilege. To represent the fanbase and reflect the passion of our supporters is no small task. Time and again, Saints fans have shown they’re among the very best in the country – turning up, singing loud, and backing the team no matter the circumstances.

“We want these displays to be a reflection of the unity and pride that runs through this fanbase. The atmosphere at St Mary’s during these big games proves that when our supporters come together, we create something unforgettable – both on the pitch and in the stands.”

The post Midnite recruit Southampton fans to form ‘Tifo Committee’ ahead of crunch derby with Portsmouth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Johan Röhr Becomes Acting Director General of the Swedish Gambling Authority

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The Swedish government has appointed the Swedish Gambling Authority’s current Chief Legal Officer, Johan Röhr, as acting Director General of the Swedish Gambling Authority.

The appointment is valid from 1 November 2025 until further notice, but not until a new Director General takes up his/her position.

Johan Röhr has extensive experience in the business and will ensure continuity in management. Operations will continue as planned and at an unabated pace while waiting for a new Director General to be appointed, says Spelinspektionen’s Chairman of the Board Claes Norgren.

The post Johan Röhr Becomes Acting Director General of the Swedish Gambling Authority appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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