Deriving lower-risk gambling limits from data collected in four cross-sectional Finnish surveys

Background: This article aims to examine the relationship between gambling participation and risk of gambling-related harms (GRHs) in Finland using four nationally representative cross-sectional datasets from 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023. This study is linked with developing Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs). Methods: Data consisted of 14,163 adults (51.8% men; median age = 52) who reported gambling during the past year. Lower-risk limits of gambling participation (gambling frequency, number of gambling types, gambling expenditure as percentage of personal net income [GEPI]) were calculated using GRH indicators. The data from years 2011 and 2015 were analysed together, and analyses were replicated with the 2019 and 2023 data. Gambling participation was measured with categorical variables and GRH indicators were derived from 7 items of the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). Results: The lower-risk limits were similar between datasets for gambling frequency (6 gambling days per month). For number of gambling types, the limit was lower in 2023 compared to other datasets (2 gambling types vs. 3 gambling types). For GEPI, the lower-risk limit was stricter in 2019 and 2023 (2.0%) compared to 2011-2015 (3.0%). Conclusions: Finnish 2019 and 2023 data revealed somewhat stringent risk limits for number of gambling types and GEPI compared to Finnish 2011-2015 data. However, according to the study testing the feasibility and acceptability of LRGGs in Finland, original LRGGs were considered suitable. These results can be considered when implementing LRGGs in Finland.