Survey for professionals on monitoring gambling-related harm

Survey for professionals on monitoring gambling-related harm examine gambling-related harms and various related phenomena in Finland. The project collects insights from professionals who encounter gambling and gambling-related harms in their work, focusing on the current situation as well as developments and emerging phenomena related to gambling. In addition, the project reviews the structures and current state of preventive work on gambling-related harms and the service system providing support and treatment for gambling problems.

The survey is conducted annually. Professionals who encounter gambling in their work participate in the project's surveys. These professionals work, for example, in support and treatment services for gambling problems within the social and health services of the wellbeing services counties, in third-sector organizations, in preventive substance abuse work, in the broader field of health and wellbeing promotion, or in other services and settings where gambling-related harm is encountered, such as schools and educational institutions, youth work, financial and debt counselling, and so on.

All individuals who encounter gambling, gambling-related harm or gambling‑like phenomena in their work (e.g., high‑risk investing or gambling‑like features within digital games) are welcome to respond to the survey.

The results are reported annually. Since the surveys began in 2022, the findings have especially highlighted an increase in gambling among young people and young adults, a deterioration in the financial situations of individuals experiencing gambling-related harm, and the growth of new forms of gambling (e.g., gambling‑like features within digital games or high‑risk investing). At the same time, the project has provided important insights into the challenges and opportunities of preventing gambling-related harm across Finland, as well as into the current situation and development needs of the support and treatment service system.

Goals

The aim of the project is to provide an up‑to‑date overview of gambling and gambling‑related harms, to complement the knowledge base derived from register data, and to support municipalities and wellbeing services counties in planning prevention efforts and services related to gambling harms.

Implementation

The project conducts annual surveys for professionals who encounter gambling in their work, as well as for those working in prevention, support, and treatment. These surveys have been carried out since 2022. The survey is distributed 1–2 times per year through newsletters, email lists, and other similar channels. The surveys are open for anyone working with gambling-related harms to respond.

The surveys explore current developments, phenomena, and harms related to gambling that have been observed in preventive work or services. In addition, they gather information on the structures of preventive work as well as support and treatment services.