Help-seeking and help expectations for gambling problems at different severity levels

Background: Treatment and help services for gambling problems range from formalised therapy to lower-threshold options such as helplines, digital health solutions and online self-help resources. Few people with gambling problems access these services. Lack of service reach may partly be explained by expectations and experiences on available services. Yet, little is currently known about what kind of services are expected and accessed by individuals gambling at different severity levels. Objectives: This study analyses help-seeking and help expectations amongst a sample of Swedish gambling helpline customers (N=108). Methods: Data were collected using an online survey. The survey collected data on demographic characteristics, prior use of different support and treatment services for gambling, use of the national self-exclusion registry, and screened participants for gambling problem severity. The analysis compares help expectations and received services between individuals with gambling disorder and those gambling at lower severity levels. Results: Results show a wide range of expectations regarding help services, including psychological support, support with CSOs, and financial counselling. Expectations were similar across individuals with and without gambling disorder. However, in terms of received services, those with more severe gambling problems tended to receive more online and self-help services than those gambling at lower severity levels. Most help-seekers had self-excluded from gambling but continued gambling regardless. Conclusions: Our results suggest a mismatch between harm severity and types of received help. More effective prevention of gambling harm would reduce the burden on help services and allow better targeting of services to address individual needs of help-seekers.