Dr. Jamie Torrance: Tackling Gambling Harms in Society

_{Lecturer at Swansea University discussed innovative strategies for gambling harm reduction. (Image: Mark Hathaway / Courtesy of Jamie Torrance)}

Dr. Jamie Torrance is a lecturer and researcher in psychology at Swansea University. His areas of expertise include the content and impacts of gambling advertising, how gambling products are designed, and developing harm-reduction strategies from a public health perspective.

Dr. Torrance is currently focused on understanding the harms associated with online sports betting alongside the development of an educational brief intervention aimed at increasing scepticism towards gambling advertising. 

Dr. Torrance has conducted numerous projects that were externally funded by organisations such as the Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling (AFSG), Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO), and GambleAware. 

University Research Addressing Complex Issues Surrounding Gambling Industry 

Recent research from Swansea University highlights a significant link between strategic forms of gambling and harmful gambling behaviours, particularly among individuals with a history of mental health issues, such as PTSD. 

The study marks the first identification of a direct relationship between game type and gambling risk in this demographic. Findings indicate that while participants showed a preference for both strategic games—like poker—and non-strategic games, those inclined towards strategic gambling faced a higher risk of experiencing gambling-related harm.  

In a broader context, the gambling industry is grappling with increasing regulatory pressures aimed at enhancing player protection. This development has led to a shift from mere acknowledgment of the need for responsible gambling practices to active implementation of measures, including the use of AI for monitoring and supporting safer gambling behaviours. 

Countries in Europe, such as Sweden and Belgium, are introducing or enhancing duty of care requirements for operators, mandating proactive measures to prevent problem gambling among players.  

The UK is also stepping up its efforts, encouraging operators to participate in the GamProtect initiative to share customer data and better identify gambling-related harms. Meanwhile, Australia is facing ongoing scrutiny over its online gambling compliance, and Brazil is poised to introduce responsible gambling regulations in early 2025 that focus on monitoring player spending patterns.

Globally, discussions on affordability checks, which require operators to assess whether customers can afford their gambling expenditures, are gaining traction. This concept is being closely monitored by regulators in various jurisdictions, reflecting a growing consensus on the importance of understanding players' financial capabilities to mitigate potential gambling harms.

As regulatory frameworks evolve, the direction in which the gambling industry is heading emphasizes a more responsible and informed approach to player engagement and harm reduction. In order to get a fresh perspective, we interviewed Dr. Jamie Torrance to get a broader picture of the state of the industry from an academic perspective.  

We began by asking Dr. Torrance to share his thoughts on the threat the black market poses to the gambling industry. 

Dr. Torrance responded by saying, "Based on my research and consultations with various stakeholders, it's clear that the black market is perceived as a significant threat to the legitimate gambling industry. However, I believe it’s somewhat overemphasized. 

"Many in the gambling sector often claim that the black market poses a monumental risk, yet from my discussions, I don’t think it’s as dire as they suggest.”  

Do you believe that the threats from the black market might be exaggerated? 

"Absolutely. The gambling industry warns that stringent regulations drive customers toward the black market. In theory, tighter regulations should actually help retain customers by ensuring a safer gambling environment. It’s not uncommon for regulators to think that increased oversight will prevent customers from turning to illegal options.”  

Is the goal of increased regulation to create a safer gambling ecosystem?

“An example of where this works well can be seen with state-owned operators in Nordic countries. They maintain strict regulations yet do not have a huge concern about the black market. Instead of pushing customers away, proper regulation should ideally attract them back to legal platforms.” 

We pressed Dr. Torrance on the claims and concerns within the gambling industry that individuals were being pushed to illegal operators through strict regulations. According to him, this is a misconception. 

"Increased regulatory oversight should lead to healthier gambling practices. It’s important to engage with cybersecurity measures to block illegal operators, whether they use VPNs or target specific regions. The challenge is having the right people in place, both in terms of technical skills and policymaking.” 

How advertising for gambling plays into this equation? 

"Advertising in the UK has become exceedingly permissive. The competition amongst gambling operators leads to widespread and aggressive advertising, which can flood the market with gambling options. 

"If Ukraine decides to follow the UK’s model, they must remain cautious and consider implementing tighter advertising restrictions to mitigate gambling harm.” 

Dr. Torrance was asked if, given the political climate and the military focus in Ukraine, he foresaw unique challenges. 

"Absolutely. The military population is vulnerable, and strategies from the gambling industry can lead to increased gambling engagement among these personnel. 

"It’s crucial for Ukraine to structure regulations proactively to prevent these issues from escalating, especially with a growing population of veterans.”  

He continued with recommending the pro-state-owned model, saying, "My primary recommendation is to adopt a state-owned model with strict regulations and ethical business practices. If regulations aren’t watertight or if loopholes exist, it could result in significant harm for individuals and strain social support systems.” 

Focusing on investors, we asked Dr. Torrance if he thought there was going to be a growing emphasis on ethical business practices and ESG principles.  

"There's definitely an increasing concern among consumers about the ethical stance of gambling operators. Numerous stakeholders see the value in maintaining consumer trust, which is essential. The demand for ethical business practices is growing, and regulatory bodies should address this need effectively.” 

Casinos.com was curious as to what could be taken away from the ongoing conversations and research findings of Dr. Torrance and the university. 

"Moving forward, I’d encourage ongoing discussions about balancing the freedom to engage in gambling while ensuring strong protections against harm. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to create a framework that is fair and effective, particularly in a new and evolving environment like Ukraine.”