Projects & Research Partnerships

Background

Research demonstrates that gambling can result in substantial harm to individuals, families and communities. Harms range from financial loss, employment issues and relationship strain to significant physical and mental health impacts, including suicide. Gambling-related harms also disproportionately affect economically and socially disadvantaged groups.

While policies such as restricting gambling products, limiting advertising and strengthening regulations can help prevent these harms, there is currently limited evidence regarding their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Computer-based decision analytic models allow researchers to bring together evidence from various sources to predict the future costs, health outcomes and fairness of alternative policy options. Although such models have been successfully used to inform UK public health policies on alcohol and non-communicable diseases, there are currently no published decision analytic models for gambling harm prevention.

Project overview

The G-PULSE project is a 12-month initiative funded by UKRI and running from April 2026 to April 2027. Led by Professor Hazel Squires at the University of Sheffield, the project brings together a multidisciplinary partnership including the University of Glasgow, The King's Fund, policy makers, third-sector organisations and individuals with lived experience of gambling harms.

Rather than building a full model immediately, G-PULSE focuses on building the foundational partnerships, methodologies and data resources required to design a world-leading gambling prevention policy model.

Objectives

The key objectives of the project are to:

• Build and strengthen partnerships: Establish a collaborative network between academic institutions, policy makers, third-sector groups and members of the public with lived experience of gambling harms through dedicated workshops and engagement.
• Develop a survey dataset dictionary: Create a comprehensive resource mapping existing survey data relevant to gambling modelling, identifying available variables, data accessibility, and gaps.
• Conduct conceptual modelling: Formally outline the scope, quantitative methods, structural framework, and evidence base needed to model priority gambling prevention policies.
• Prepare for full model implementation: Submit a follow-on application to build, test, and deploy a comprehensive gambling prevention policy modelling platform for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

Research approach

The project uses an established conceptual modelling framework to structure public health models and involve stakeholders effectively:

1. Stakeholder and lived experience engagement: We will host two interactive workshops bringing together local and national policy makers, health service staff, researchers and public members. Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) is embedded throughout the project.
2. Behavioural systems mapping: Working with stakeholders, we will map out how specific policies influence individual behaviour, commercial environments, co-occurring health factors (such as alcohol use), and long-term societal outcomes.
3. Evaluating modelling tools and data: Using established complex systems guidance and modelling toolboxes, we will evaluate microeconomic, macroeconomic, and behavioural simulation methods. This includes exploring insights from the Glasgow Experimental Lab (GaEL) and building on early-stage microsimulation work underway at Sheffield.

Anticipated outcomes and policy impact

By setting the groundwork for robust computer modelling, G-PULSE will help ensure future gambling regulations and preventative policies are evidence-based, cost-effective, and targeted to reduce health inequalities.

Key outputs from the 12-month project will include:

• A publicly available report detailing the scope and structure for a gambling policy decision model.
• A dataset dictionary of relevant survey data for researchers and policy analysts.
• A peer-reviewed journal article outlining priority research questions, appropriate modelling methods, and evidence gaps.
• A full grant application to build and operationalise the phase two decision-modelling platform across Great Britain.

Participating researchers and institutions

Core project team

• Professor Hazel Squires (Project Lead), University of Sheffield
• David Buck (Project Co-Lead), The King's Fund
• Professor Alan Brennan, University of Sheffield
• Professor Emma McIntosh, University of Glasgow
• Professor Graeme Roy, University of Glasgow
• Dr Tessa Peasgood, University of Sheffield
• Dr Ellen McGrane, University of Sheffield
• Esther Moore, University of Sheffield
• Anne Greaves, University of Sheffield

Institutional partners

• University of Sheffield
• The King's Fund
• University of Glasgow
• Byres Community Hub (Project Partner)