Collaboration and research in responsible gambling
When we talk about responsible gambling, we often place the onus on either the individual to take care of themselves, or on gambling operators to provide access to the proper tools and information. However, if we zoom our lens out a little, we can see that there are many groups involved in responsible gambling. In this article we will consider the ways and processes they use to work together.
How do different interests work together to promote responsible gambling?
Many groups have an interest in responsible gambling besides gambling operators. These include regulators, legislators, researchers, and treatment providers, among others. It is important for these interest groups to maintain a healthy working relationship through the process of stakeholder cooperation.
What are some examples of responsible gambling research?
This tends to differ depending on the organisation performing the research so you can imagine there are as many studies as there are interest group. Studies generally focus on the various aspects of gambling behaviour, looking at risk factors, impacts, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling.
What methods of data collection and analysis do gambling studies use?
Depending on the research methodology of the study, the data could be collected by questionnaire, survey, census or other administrative records, observational data, or face to face interview.
Why is evidence-based practice important in responsible gambling?
If you are designing responsible gambling policy, it’s important to know that the interventions you are planning actually work. This is what we mean by evidence-based practice: that your methods are backed by solid research evidence.
How do you identify and disseminate responsible gambling best practices?
There are several factors that must be carefully evaluated when designing responsible gambling best practices. These factors include:
- Feasibility – can it be done?
- Budget – is it cost effective?
- Acceptance – will the target audience accept it?
- Scalability – can it be scaled to a meet the demands of the audience (i.e., scaled up to a national audience, or scaled down to a local community level?)
How is responsible gambling policy developed and implemented?
Legislators and regulators work together to design and implement the rules governing how online casinos can operate. A robust regulatory framework involves such things as licenses and who can hold them, advertisement, taxation, and how to minimise harm.
What treatment options are available to problem gamblers and their families?
Effective treatments come in all shapes and sizes and should be tailored to individual need. Local support groups, helplines, financial planning services, and therapy sessions are all examples of the types of treatment available for people experiencing gambling-related harm.
What is the purpose of responsible gambling education and awareness programs, and how are they delivered and evaluated?
Responsible gambling awareness programs are usually tailored to a specific target group or demographic. For instance, public campaigns to warn consumers about the risks of gambling, specially designed programs for schools, staff training modules, and the like.
How do you evaluate the effectiveness of responsible gambling programs?
We can measure the effectiveness of these programs by looking for changes in the desired behaviour. If the program was developed to increase awareness of available support systems (or a specific support system, like a helpline, for instance) we can measure the number of people who accessed the service before and after the intervention.
How important is international collaboration in responsible gambling?
There are social and cultural factors influencing how people gamble, how they react to gambling advertisements, and how they approach getting help if they need it. By exchanging data, standards, and best practices across jurisdictions, we can design programs that transcend barriers.
How is data shared for responsible gambling?
The type of data collected differs from one organisation to the next. Legislators and regulators might be looking for slightly different data than, say, a gambling operator. Regardless of its purpose data or how it’s collected, data is always anonymised before it shared to be used in research.
How does harm reduction/prevention work in responsible gambling?
Harm prevention entails preventing players from getting to the point where they develop problem gambling behaviours in the first place, whereas harm reduction is all about mitigating any harm already caused. Gaming limits play a big role in empowering players to control their own time on site, especially self-exclusion. Additionally, screening tools are employed by gambling operators to monitor players to ensure their behaviour falls within acceptable norms.
What does the future hold for responsible gambling?
Gambling remains a very popular activity, so we can expect to see responsible gambling strategies change and innovate to keep up with the latest gambling trends. It’s difficult to predict the future, however it is likely we will see more personalised approaches to responsible gambling, with AI potentially playing a part.