@Article{info:doi/10.2196/66045,
author="Tjernberg, Johanna
and Helgesson, Sara
and H{\aa}kansson, Anders
and Hansson, Helena",
title="Exploring the Users' Perspective of the Nationwide Self-Exclusion Service for Gambling Disorder, ``Spelpaus'': Qualitative Interview Study",
journal="JMIR Hum Factors",
year="2025",
month="Jan",
day="31",
volume="12",
pages="e66045",
keywords="gambling disorder; gambling addiction; behavioral addiction; harm reduction; self-exclusion; voluntary self-exclusion; Spelpaus; lived experience; human factors; usability; qualitative study",
abstract="Background: Problem gambling and gambling disorder cause severe social, psychiatric, and financial consequences, and voluntary self-exclusion is a common harm reduction tool used by individuals with gambling problems. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore users' experience of a novel nationwide, multioperator gambling self-exclusion service, ``Spelpaus,'' in Sweden and to inform stakeholders and policy makers in order to improve harm reduction tools against gambling problems. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals who reported self-perceived gambling problems and who had experience of having used the self-exclusion service Spelpaus in Sweden. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Results: We identified 3 categories and 8 subcategories. The categories were (1) reasons for the decision to self-exclude, (2) positive experiences, and (3) suggestions for improvement. The subcategories identified a number of reasons for self-exclusion, such as financial reasons and family reasons, and positive experiences described as a relief from gambling; in addition, important suggestions for improvement were cited, such as a more gradual return to gambling post--self-exclusion, better ways to address loopholes in the system, and transfer from self-exclusion to treatment. Conclusions: Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling, using a nationwide multioperator service, remains an appreciated harm-reducing tool. However, transfer from self-exclusion to treatment should be facilitated by policy making, and loopholes allowing for breaching of the self-exclusion need to be counteracted. ",
issn="2292-9495",
doi="10.2196/66045",
url="https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e66045",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/66045",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39888656"
}