Pulling Out of Gambling Treatment: Research, service, practitioner, and client perspectives

This research explores definitions, estimates, predictors, reasons, consequences, and potential solutions related to pulling out of formal psychological gambling treatment.

The research was co-designed with a panel of people with lived experience of gambling harm, and synthesises findings from a scoping review, service data, and practitioner and client perspectives to better understand the issue of clients pulling out of formal psychological gambling treatment.

The research found that pulling out of formal psychological gambling treatment is common (one in three clients), it typically occurs early, and it is influenced by a mix of individual and treatment-related factors rather than any single predictor. Reasons for this early withdrawal include practical barriers, low motivation or readiness, lack of support, concerns about treatment, treatment not fit for purpose, or early goal attainment.

Practical implications and solutions are provided including:

• use of client-centred, culturally appropriate terminology
• improving service data systems
• providing flexible and accessible service options
• prioritising early engagement
• tailoring support for Māori, Pacific, and younger clients
• investing in the workforce.