University of Glasgow Develops Global Benchmarking Tool for Gambling Regulation
Introduction to the Global Gambling Control Scorecard
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed the Global Gambling Control Scorecard (GGCS), the first worldwide benchmarking tool designed to evaluate gambling regulation. This innovative tool enables regulators, academics, and other interested parties to compare how various countries manage gambling activities and protect players.
Development and Backing of the GGCS
The GGCS was created by a team of university researchers, supported by the World Health Organization and other international partners. The initiative’s goal was to establish a standardized framework for assessing gambling regulations across nations. Currently, the scorecard includes data from 34 European regions.
Heather Wardle, a professor specializing in gambling research and policy at the University of Glasgow, describes the GGCS as an essential resource for understanding international gambling regulations and monitoring developments in other countries.
Critique of Traditional Regulatory Focus
Researcher Daria Ukhova highlighted a common issue in gambling regulation: the excessive focus on “responsible gambling,” which places the burden primarily on individuals. She explains that this perspective often overlooks systemic factors contributing to gambling-related harm. Her team’s prior global review revealed that even when policies recognize gambling harms, responses typically concentrate on individual choices rather than implementing broader protective measures.
Ukhova hopes that the GGCS will shift attention toward structural factors and become a useful tool for researchers, regulators, and social organizations worldwide dedicated to reducing gambling harm.
Comprehensive Assessment Features of the GGCS
The scorecard evaluates regulatory effectiveness using over 40 indicators. These cover traditional regulatory aspects—such as licensing, legality, and efforts to prevent illicit gambling—as well as harm reduction policies and initiatives promoting collaboration with sectors like mental health and financial education.
The GGCS dataset and accompanying codebook are publicly available, enabling stakeholders to benchmark national regulations, identify weaknesses, and monitor reform progress globally. The developers aim to expand the tool beyond Europe to encompass a truly global perspective with additional funding and collaboration.
Future Expansion and Impact
By mapping legal frameworks, regulatory structures, anti-illicit gambling strategies, harm prevention efforts, and more, the GGCS offers a detailed and balanced view of where countries perform well and where improvements are needed. Although it presently focuses on European countries, the research team plans to extend its scope worldwide as resources allow.
