This discussion paper identifies the lack of robust and systematic research on key concerns with current gambling product technology, and outlines what needs to be done to better understand why and how gambling products may contribute to the risk of harms. The authors propose a potential multi-year research program to assess gambling product characteristics and risks. This begins with establishing consensus around definitions, creating trust among researchers, and developing the use of gambling account data and product metadata. The areas of highest priority research are online sports betting and slots, as well as slots on electronic gambling machines in casinos, based on their potential to cause harm.
The document includes:
- A conceptual model of what 'industry' encompasses in terms of types of gambling
- Key trends that will likely impact the development of gambling products over the next ten years
- A scan of the most high-quality and relevant research into gambling harm and associations with product characteristics
- A proposed roadmap to facilitate interest holder discussion around how to address the most urgent and high-impact gaps in the research and considerations for policy
