January 2023 | Issue 18

Structural characteristics of online gambling

Structural characteristics are the design features of gambling products (e.g., speed-of-play and slot machine sounds) that can influence gambling behaviour and increase the risk of experiencing gambling-related harm. How can research on structural characteristics inform the design of gambling products to minimize gambling-related harms? 

Recently published gambling research

Perceptions of interactive, real-time persuasive technology for managing online gambling 
Arden-Close et al (2022)

Reducing loot box complexity through the ethical design as part of consumer protection
Xiao and Newall (2022)

Recently published specialised resources

Redesign gambling websites to reduce harm: Five recommendations for immediate action 

(Behavioural Insights Team)

Convergence of gaming and gambling

Gaming and gambling can converge in several ways, including gambling-like features in video games like loot boxes, social casino games, and gambling with skins which are digital items that change the appearance of characters in video games. The gaming /gambling convergence, including the migration from gaming to gambling, has raised concerns about the increased likelihood of people who play video games experiencing gambling harm. How can research help us understand the impact of the convergence of gaming and gambling on gambling-related harm? 

Recently published gambling research

Recently published specialised resources

Between gaming and gambling: Children, young people, and paid reward systems in games 
Ash et al (2022) 

Loot boxes: How children are being exposed to gambling-like harms in video games
Victoria Responsible Gambling Foundation

Understanding and managing your child's in-app purchases
Victoria Responsible Gambling Foundation

Research dissemination opportunity

The Gambling Commission in Great Britain has opened applications for a research poster session as part of their upcoming Setting the Evidence Agenda conference, taking place on 9 March 2023 in Birmingham. The poster session will allow early career researchers and academics to showcase their work with a range of different stakeholders. Projects can be complete or in progress, and should:

• Apply interesting and innovative research methods and/or use of data.
• Contribute to advancing the evidence base on understanding consumer behaviour, gambling-related harms, and effective mitigations.
• Involve collaboration with different partners or the consideration of a range of perspectives.

More information and the application form can be found at https://bit.ly/3k9n95H 

The deadline for abstract submission is 31 January 2023. If you have any questions please contact research@gamblingcommission.gov.uk.

Advisory Board for Safer Gambling is seeking a new board member

The Gambling Commission is seeking to appoint a new member of the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG). The successful candidate will help ABSG to advise the Gambling Commission on its regulation to prevent harms and protect consumers. The closing date for applications is 24 February 2023.

More information about the ABSG and the position can be found on their website.

Research funding opportunities

The Academic Forum for the Study of Gambling (AFSG) and Greo are seeking a UK-based entity (charity, organisation, group, or consortium) representing or led by people with lived experience of gambling-related harm to design and administer a new fund: the Lived Experience Access Fund (LEAF).  

The aim of LEAF is to enable those who have experienced harm through gambling to actively participate in the research process of studies intended to reduce gambling-related harm. The goal of this fund is to enable, assist, and build capacity among people with lived experience to be actively involved in the research process. This could include but is not limited to the conception or design of the research, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data, writing of the final report or revising it critically to ensure it is grounded in lived experience. 

The total amount available is £25,000 (£20,000 to distribute to people with lived experience and £5,000 to the successful organisation to administer the funds). More about the source of these funds can be found at About the AFSG Funds.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 24 January 2023. 
Applications are due 14 February 2023. 

For information on eligibility and application guidelines, visit the Greo website.

Greo will soon be announcing calls for proposals to conduct research to fill gaps in our understanding of the links between gambling and suicide in order to target regulatory, prevention and education, and treatment interventions more effectively. 

Information regarding the funds available and the call for proposals will be posted on the Greo Funding opportunities page.

Upcoming events