Research Centre: Flinders Centre for Gambling Research, Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
Location: This is a virtual study open across South Australia
Lead Researcher: Dr. Ben Riley 
HREC: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committees

Gambling-related harm doesn’t just affect the person gambling—it impacts their family and friends too. Unfortunately, the support available for loved ones isn’t always effective in addressing these challenges.

This study focuses on YOU—the family member or friend of someone with a gambling problem. If you’re supporting someone else and do not have a gambling problem yourself, this study is designed to better understand your experiences and challenges. The goal is to identify and share the most effective ways to support families like yours, helping you cope and improve your well-being.

Join researchers at the Flinders Centre for Gambling Research and be part of the solution. Your participation could lead to better support for you and your loved ones, improving psychological well-being and reducing the burden of gambling harm in your community. Help uncover better ways to make a difference—join today!

• Participants may experience improved psychological well-being and a decrease in their family member’s gambling.
• Participants will participate in 6 therapy sessions at no cost.
• Participants will be recieve gift cards for participating in this study. Compensation only be issued after they attend the first visit.
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may benefit those facing gambling-related harm in the future.
• Participants may experience reduced gambling-related harm. 
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

• Must not have a current gambling problem
• Men and women aged 18+ 
• Must have a family member or friend who has a current gambling problem and is not currently seeking help or must have regular contact with a family member or friend with a current gambling problem. While multiple friends or family members can access the support materials provided, only one friend or family member who knows the person with the gambling problem can enroll in this study.
• Must live with a family member or friend who has a current gambling problem or have regular contact with them if not living together 
• Must not have concerns about your safety or the safety of your family if your participation in this study becomes known to the individual with the gambling problem
• Must not have a history of family violence
• Must not have any current significant mental distress conditions
• Must be able to read and speak in English
• Must be able and willing to participate in the study and complete the study procedures

The study team will explain the research in its entirety but some details are:

• Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires online, via email, or in hard copy at four points: the start, session 6, and 3-month follow-up. Each will take 10-15 minutes. Additionally, you’ll report the gambler’s activity at each session.
• Participants will be asked to undergo randomisation into one of two groups after completing the baseline questionnaires. The principal investigator will arrange for a therapist to contact you within 48 hours to arrange a time for the first therapy session.
• Participants will be asked to attend up to six individual sessions (30-60 minutes each) guided by a client workbook, focusing either on gambling education and harm minimisation (FI-1) or response strategies to influence the gambler’s behaviour (FI-2).

Flinders Centre for Gambling Research 
Flinders Centre for Gambling Research (FCGR) is a research centre affiliated with Flinders University and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and integrated with the Statewide Gambling Therapy Service. With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in researching gambling disorders and their treatment. Our interests include clinical interventions and outcomes, as well as the factors that contribute to the development of gambling problems. We also focus on policy, factors influencing gambling uptake, and interventions to support individuals and families affected by gambling disorders. Our goal is to refine evidence-based interventions and develop precise psychosocial treatments for those with gambling disorders.

Please note:
This study will be conducted remotely which means there will be no in-person visits, allowing you to participate in the comfort of your own home.